Flickerfest short film festival returns for 2026 season at Bondi Beach

One of the country’s most prestigious short film festivals is launching its 2026 season on one of Sydney’s most iconic beaches paying, while paying homage to a truly famous film.

Drag queens Minnie Cooper, Janet Anderson and Jimi the Kween in Priscilla Queen of the Desert-themed costumes for the annual Flickerfest announcement trailer. Picture: Dion Carrothers

First stop Bondi, next the world!

Internationally recognised short film festival Flickerfest has launched its 2026 season with a photo shoot and trailer inspired by one of Australia’s most iconic films: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Entries for the festival have officially closed with a record number submitted and judges are in the process of watching more than 3500 entries to select about 200 films to be screened at Bondi Pavilion in January.

Drag queens Janet Anderson, Minnie Cooper and Jimi the Kween in Priscilla Queen of the Desert themed costumes for the annual Flickerfest announcement trailer. Picture: Dion Carrothers

Flickerfest festival director Bronwyn Kidd. Picture: Supplied

Festival director Bronwyn Kidd said the festival “pays homage to an iconic Australian film and this year we’ve chosen Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” each year.

While the festival in 2026 is celebrating 35 years, Ms Kidd will be marking her 28th year as director of Flickerfest — having started in the role when films were being submitted on VHS.

Ms Kidd said the festival had screened films from more than 100 countries and the judges are “always of course on the lookout to include local films”.

“We’ve had people who qualify through Flickerfest go on to win an Oscar,” she said.

“The industry does really take note of the filmmakers who make it through to the competition.”

Drag queens Minnie Cooper, Janet Anderson and Jimi the Kween for the annual Flickerfest announcement trailer. Picture: Dion Carrothers

As an Academy Award-recognised film festival, Flickerfest sits with the likes of Sundance, Cannes and Melbourne International Film Festivals as those who score a prize in eligible categories become eligible for Oscar nomination.

The four accredited categories are Best International Short Film, Best Australian Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film and Best International Animation Short Film awards, the winners of which will be eligible to submit their films for the 99th Academy Awards in 2027.

Flickerfest is also recognised as a qualifying festival by the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs).

Waverley Council has proposed its support of the festival through free promotion, use of Bondi Pavilion for daytime screenings and the set up of projection at the adjacent Bondi Park in the evenings.

Following the Sydney leg of the festival, a selection of films will tour more than 40 capital cities and regional centres around Australia later in 2026.

Originally published as Flickerfest short film festival returns for 2026 season at Bondi Beach