International Film & Short Film Festival

Are you a filmmaker with a vision the world needs to see?

The SAFAL International Film Festival in Sydney, Australia is now accepting submissions for its 2025 edition. Whether you’re an emerging voice or an established artist, we invite you to showcase your creativity, passion, and storytelling power on our global stage.

Winners will receive trophies, global recognition, and screening opportunities. Selected films will be showcased before an international audience of film lovers, critics, and industry professionals. Featuring films from around the world and South Asia, this year’s festival brings together inspiring filmmakers, thought-provoking stories, and a vibrant global audience.

International Film & Short Film Festival 27th to 30th August 2025

27th to 29 th August

Screening of selected films

30th August 2025

Screening of Finalists

3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Venue: Event Cinema Ryde



Submit your film to be part of SAFAL FEST 2025 – a global celebration of storytelling through cinema.

We welcome entries in both Feature Film and Short Film categories. All genres and styles are encouraged.

Showcase your work, connect with a worldwide audience, and gain recognition through awards, screenings, and industry exposure.

International Film & Short Film Festival

The SAFAL FEST 2025 Film Festival celebrates creativity, storytelling, and cultural expression through the lens of cinema. 

Featuring films from around the world and South Asia, this year’s festival brings together inspiring filmmakers, thought-provoking stories, and a vibrant global audience.

🎬International Film & Short Film Festival

• 27th to 29 th August Screening of selected films
• 30th August 2025 Screening of Finalists

3:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Venue: Event Cinema Ryde

International Film & Short Film Festival

Competition & Screening | SAFAL Fest 2025

Presented by the Australian South Asian Forum (ASAF)
Showcasing the rich art, culture, and literary heritage of eight nations from the dynamic South Asian region.

🌏 Participating Countries:
Afghanistan | Bangladesh | Bhutan | India | Australia | Maldives | Nepal | Pakistan | Sri Lanka

📅 Event Details

• Date: 27th to 30th August 2025
• Time: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Venue: Event Cinema Ryde, Sydney

🏆 Competition Highlights

• Celebrate independent voices from across South Asia and the diaspora
• Showcase your creativity in front of a diverse, multicultural audience
• A unique platform for emerging and established filmmakers
• Categories: Short Films, Documentaries, Experimental Works

🎥 Contact for Submissions & Enquiries

Kithsri Karunaratne
Director – International and Short Films
📞 0417 216 003

🧑‍💼 Festival Leadership

• Kedar Pagaddinnimath – Festival Chairperson, Secretary/Co-Founder ASAF & SAFAL
• Ash Gholkar – President/Founder, ASAF & SAFAL
• Saliya Tennakoon – Festival Director

🤝 Supported By:

• NSW Government (Multicultural NSW)
• City of Ryde
• NIMS Institute
• InCorp Advisory
• Various South Asian Associations and Cultural Organisations

🎟️ For Program Information:
👉 www.safalfest.com