Documentary

Documentary entries for the 2026 AACTA Awards are open.

Please note: Documentary or Factual Program entries and their associated craft category entry information can be found here.

AACTA Award for Best Documentary
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary
AACTA Award for Best Editing in a Documentary
AACTA Award for Best Sound in a Documentary
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in a Documentary
AACTA Award for Best Original Song†
AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack†

†Note: Candidates combined from Feature Film, Documentary, Television, Online Drama or Comedy, and Short Film. 

Entries Open: Thursday 12th June, 2025
Entries Close: Monday 4th August 2025, 11:59pm AEST
Round 1 Viewing and Voting Period: 15th August 2025 - 22nd September 2025
Nominations Announcement: TBA
Round 2 Viewing and Voting Period: TBA

Budget under $500k: $520
Budget $500K to $1M: $660
Budget over $1M: $800

All documentaries submitted to the AACTA Awards must have been completed between 22nd August 2024 and 4th August 2025. Whether a Production is complete is determined by the entrant. There is no condition that they must have screened publicly or been released.

To ensure the most comprehensive and inclusive field, AACTA reserves the right to extend the eligibility period. AACTA members will be notified of any changes. 

For full eligibility requirements, please see the 2026 AACTA Awards Rule Book.

A minimum of four Award Candidates listed on the Form must be current AACTA Professional members. If you are listing less than four Candidates on the Entry Form, then all Candidates must be current AACTA Professional members.

The only valid form of AACTA membership for this category is AACTA Professional. For more information on AACTA membership, visit our website here.

If you are unsure of whether you currently satisfy the membership requirement, or may fail to do so, please contact the AACTA Awards Department.