Nominees Announced for the 2026 AACTA Award for Best Short Film

Nominees Announced for the 2026 AACTA Award for Best Short Film 

Port Douglas, Queensland: The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) today announced the nominees for the 2026 AACTA Award for Best Short Film, with the announcement taking place at the Port Shorts Film Festival in Port Douglas, Queensland.

The AACTA Award for Best Short Film celebrates Australia’s most compelling, self-contained fictional live action or animated films under 40 minutes. With a record breaking field of over 130 short films considered, and in a first for the category, there are 8 nominees vying for the coveted accolade this year. The nominees reflect a diverse and powerful cross-section of stories and styles from across the country. 

AACTA’s Awards and Industry Development Manager Ivan Vukusic said “This year we saw a renewed interest and energy in the short film category and our screen agencies should be applauded for reinvigorating their support for this important format. With the record breaking size of the field in mind and the wealth of diverse styles recognised by our members in what was a closely fought contest, we’ve extended our nominees to 8 this year. It’s an incredible mix of form and perspectives, and we’ve been encouraged to see ambitious films from bold new voices resonating with our members. Our thanks to the Port Shorts Film Festival for providing a unique and beautiful setting for this year’s announcement”.

The 2026 nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Short Film are:

• Beyond Measure (David Ferrier)
• Dependent (Julian Maroun, Marcus Fredrick Khoudair, Joseph Chebatte, Emma Elias)
• DIY (Tony Gardiner, Lachlan Marks)
• Don't Ignore Me (Raymond Mendez, Charli Fletcher, Rosangela Fasano, Bianca Kean)
• I'm The Most Racist Person I Know (Leela Varghese, Suriyna Sivashanker, Leigh Marsh, Shabana Azeez)
• Red River Cowboy (Grace Wriggles)
• The Shirt Off Your Back (Julia Corcoran, Ari Harrison, David Robinson-Smith)
• Writers in Love (Sarah Giles, Grace Malouf, Jacqueline Kerwick)

From deeply personal explorations of grief and resilience to bold, imaginative storytelling that pushes the boundaries of form, and featuring both familiar faces and emerging filmmakers making their mark, this year’s nominees showcase the full spectrum of creativity driving Australia’s short film industry.

The nominees were selected by AACTA Members, Australia’s largest community of screen professionals. The full list of 2026 AACTA Award nominees will be revealed later this year. Round 2 voting will begin December 6 and will determine the winners of the 2026 AACTA Awards.

The winner of the AACTA Award for Best Short Film will be announced at AACTA Festival, Australia’s largest celebration of screen culture, which returns to HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast from 4 - 8 February.

Now in its third year, AACTA Festival 2026 will celebrate the talent and diversity of the Australian screen industry and its practitioners. AACTA Festival presents five days of programming spotlighting the very best of Australia’s screen talent, productions, and industry voices. With over 100 events to be announced later this year, AACTA Festival 2026 will once again bring together screen fans, creators, professionals, and emerging talent from across the country.

Upcoming Key Dates:

Location: Gold Coast

AACTA Awards Industry Gala: Wednesday 4 February 2026

AACTA Festival Industry Conference Day: Thursday 5 February 2026

AACTA Awards Ceremony & Official After Party: Friday 6 February 2026

AACTA Screen Careers Expo: Saturday 7 February

AACTA Festival: Wednesday 4 February – Sunday 8 February 

For information on the AACTA Festival, click here.

AACTA have teamed up with a number of local businesses to help you plan your trip to Queensland. Take advantage of discount accommodation offers and deals on exciting Gold Coast experiences available click here.

A summary of each short film is as follows:

BEYOND MEASURE (David Ferrier)

A man discovers he is physically shrinking, forcing him and his wife to navigate life’s ups and downs with increasing creativity and adaptability as his stature diminishes.

DEPENDENT (Julian Maroun, Marcus Fredrick Khoudair, Joseph Chebatte, Emma Elias)

Set in present-day Western Sydney, Dependent follows Julian, a dedicated yet depleted carer, as he grapples with his own physical limitations and emotional strain while caring for his younger brother, Luke, who has Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. As Julian faces a testing medical diagnosis, the omnipresent weight of responsibility and concern for his brother’s wellbeing overwhelms him.

Amidst an increasingly haphazard daily routine, the brothers’ bond is tested when news of escalating conflict in the Middle East strikes a deeply personal chord, forcing them to confront their worst fears—each in their own way. An honest and poignant snapshot of life’s wonders and struggles, set against the backdrop of a complex and often volatile world, Dependent explores the burdens and beauty of brotherly responsibility and unconditional love. It examines themes of agency, interdependence, duty, and obligation—challenging traditional distinctions between the carer and the cared for, inviting audiences to reconsider not only the nature of responsibility but also their own assumptions about disability, autonomy, duty, and the dynamics of care.

DIY (Tony Gardiner, Lachlan Marks)

DIY follows Alex, a young woman grieving the death of a beloved pet, as she decides to hang a new frame on her apartment wall. But when she drills into the plaster… blood spills from the resulting hole?! Bewildered, she runs next door, only to discover a strange man dead on the floor beside a bag full of cash. Their common wall has been torn open, the hiding place for the loot. Then, right as Alex finds neighbor Jerry ties and gagged in the bedroom, someone else steps through the front door: Gus, a hitman running late for his first job with a new crew. When Gus mistakes Alex for ‘Sam’, the bagman he’s meant to meet and is miffed she’s already ‘done his job for him’, Alex realizes her only hope of survival is to play along… 

DON’T IGNORE ME (Raymond Mendez, Charli Fletcher, Rosangela Fasano, Bianca Kean)

Sofia’s obsession with her phone comes at the cost of her social life. What starts as an innocent scrolling quickly takes a dark turn when an app begins sending her messages. With every notification blurring the boundary between the screen and reality. But as the messages grow increasingly disturbing, Sofia realises this is more than a social media stunt, as it reveals itself in the real world and drags her into theirs. Losing yourself in your phone has never been more terrifying

I'M THE MOST RACIST PERSON I KNOW (Leela Varghese, Suriyna Sivashanker, Leigh Marsh, Shabana Azeez)

When a romantic gesture towards a bartender backfires, Lali unexpectedly finds herself offered a pity date by another bartender, Ana. What starts as an awkward encounter turns into a genuine connection as they bond over shared experiences as women of color. As they grow closer, Lali finds herself falling for Ana. But when the conversation takes an unexpected turn, Lali must confront her prejudices towards Ana and... herself.

RED RIVER COWBOY (Grace Wriggles)

In the 1900s, a vengeful mistress is kidnapped and left to die in the Australian bush on her ex-lover's wedding day.

THE SHIRT OFF YOUR BACK (Julia Corcoran, Ari Harrison, David Robinson-Smith)

A dark fairytale about two brothers re-living a strange encounter with a man on Christmas Day, their memories shifting until the truth becomes something unknowable—something that quietly, irrevocably changes them. 

WRITERS IN LOVE (Sarah Giles, Grace Malouf, Jacqueline Kerwick)

A comedy about two writers whose romantic entanglement takes a sharp turn when they realize they have conflicting ideas about the ethics of writing. As their boundaries clash, the line between storytelling and manipulation begins to blur.