Stories that shift perspectives

Focus on Ability is a global short film festival built around the lives, talents and achievements of people with disability. Free to enter. Free to watch. Filmmakers everywhere are invited to tell the story — and everyone is invited to watch it.

Festival at a glance

The reach so far

3.2M+
Views worldwide
66+
Countries reached
3,000+
Films published
2008
Running since
Why this festival exists

Film moves faster than argument

A five-minute film can change how someone sees disability faster than a policy paper or a campaign ever could. That's the premise Focus on Ability was built on: give filmmakers around the world — professionals, students, and first-timers alike — a reason to put people with disability at the centre of the frame, and give audiences a reason to watch.

Every entry is free. Every screening is free. The only barrier to entry is a story worth telling.

A festival without borders

Where the audience is

01
3.2M+ views across the festival's YouTube library
02
Entries and audiences spanning 66+ countries
03
National broadcast exposure — partners to be confirmed
04
Screenings beyond Australia and New Zealand — count to be confirmed
Categories & prizes
Tens of thousands

in cash prizes and filmmaker opportunities across 12 award categories in 4 competitions.

Nova Employment Choice Award

  • NOVA Employment Choice Award
  • Most Online Votes - Short Film or Documentary

Australian Open Section

  • Judges Choice - Short Film
  • Judges Choice - Documentary
  • Judges Choice - Best Screen Writer
  • Best Actor in Short Film
  • Judges Choice - Best Director
  • Best Producer Australia Award - Short Film or Documentary

Australian & New Zealand School Section

  • Judges Choice - Short Film
  • Judges Choice - Documentary

International Section (Outside of Australia)

  • Judges Choice - Short Film
  • Judges Choice - Documentary

Full prize list, sponsors and conditions →

Key dates

What's coming up

Sydney Red Carpet Awards

Sun 18 Oct • 1:00pm
The Concourse
Chatswood NSW

Brisbane

Wed 3 Mar • 11:30am
PIP Theatre
Milton QLD

Melbourne

Tue 9 Mar • 10:30am
Crown Conference Centre, Promenade Room Level 1
Southbank VIC

Adelaide

Tue 16 Mar • 11:00am
Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide
Adelaide SA

Fremantle

Wed 17 Mar • 11:00am
WA Maritime Museum
Fremantle WA

Sydney

Tue 23 Mar • 10:30am
Liverpool Catholic Club - The Theatre
Prestons NSW

All screening dates →

Press resources

Everything a story needs

Logo packVector and raster, SVG / EPS / PNG • 588 KB
Download →
PhotographyEvent and film stills, high resolution • 3.1 MB
Download →
Full media kitReach, prizes, how it works, contacts • 6 KB
Download →
Festival trailerWatch or embed from YouTube
Watch →
Media releaseHeld until the 2026 winners are announced
Request →
Social packLinkedIn / Instagram / Stories sizes
On request →

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Focus on Ability Short Film Festival is a free, global short film competition run by NOVA Employment, giving filmmakers everywhere a platform to tell stories about the lives, talents and achievements of people with disability.

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