Screen NSW backs community film festival opening nights across the state – Screen NSW community film festivals will share $100,000 through the second year of the Community Film Festival Opening Night Fund.
The fund will support 26 community film festivals across New South Wales. It will help them stage opening night events for their 2026 editions.
The supported events will take place across metropolitan and regional NSW. Locations include Bondi Beach, Broken Hill, Byron Bay and Merimbula.
Screen NSW said the funding is designed to help festivals build stronger launch events. It will also support local screen culture and help festivals reach new audiences.
The program comes as small and community-led festivals face higher event costs. Opening nights can be vital for bringing filmmakers, audiences, sponsors and local communities together.
“We know that community-driven film festivals across the state offer important opportunities for their communities to connect, celebrate and discover new worlds and stories through screen,” Screen NSW Executive Director Kylie Munnich said.
Bangalow Film Festival Founder and Director Christian Pazzaglia said the support would help the festival create a stronger opening night moment for filmmakers and audiences.
Recipients include Africa Film Fest Australia, Antenna Documentary Film Festival, Bangalow Film Festival, Byron Bay International Film Festival, Far South Film Festival, Flickerfest, Indian Film Festival of Sydney, Mardi Gras Film Festival, Queer Screen Film Fest, SmartFone Flick Fest and Voices of Women Short Film and Script Festival.
The full recipient list spans 26 festivals. It covers cultural, documentary, short film, regional and community-focused events.
For more screen and film coverage, visit TV Central’s Cinema Releases section. More information on the fund is available from Screen NSW.
