The Seven Colors Australian Film Festival (SCAFF) has opened entries for its 2025 edition, with screenings and events set for Friday 14 to Sunday 16 November. Now in its 13th year, the festival continues its focus on cultural diversity and community harmony through creative arts, performing arts and filmmaking. Founded in 2013, SCAFF says its purpose is to build intercultural awareness and strengthen social, cultural and economic ties between Victoria, Australia and India, with a welcome to stories that travel well beyond those borders.
Across three days, audiences can expect a mix of feature films, short films, documentaries and animation. Alongside screenings, the programme will include talks and panel discussions on multiculturalism, diversity and representation in the Australian film industry. The 2025 edition is presented in memory of Yash Chopra and Pamela Chopra. The image materials show support from Glen Eira City Council and the Victorian Government, with SKGA Inc Australia as the organiser.
Submissions are open now and the festival is free to enter. SCAFF accepts any form of film in any genre and at any budget level. While the preferred duration is up to ten minutes, the festival will consider longer works. Entries are welcomed from across Victoria and Australia, and international filmmakers may also apply where there is a clear link to these locales through talent, crew or locations. This approach reflects SCAFF’s aim to bring together local and global voices while keeping a strong Victorian footing.
The deadline for submissions is 6 November 2025. Filmmakers must submit an application form together with an online screener link, such as YouTube or Vimeo, for the final selection round. Selected filmmakers will be notified directly. For the final exhibition, SCAFF requires digital HD screening files to be delivered as advised, with the festival accepting transfers via common services such as WeTransfer and Dropbox. Entrants should make sure their contact email and phone details are correct and monitored, as the onus is on the submitter to stay reachable throughout the process. Each film must be lodged with its own entry form.
Accessibility is part of the technical brief. Any production with dialogue in a language other than English must carry English subtitles. The festival notes that selected films may be used in a festival trailer and still images may appear on SCAFF channels to help promote the event.
SCAFF sets clear rules to protect rights holders and to keep the process efficient. The submitter must have the legal authority to enter the film and to approve a public screening, including permissions for performance, music and images. By submitting a film, entrants agree they have read and accepted the rules and regulations. The festival’s decision is final. It will not provide comments on films before selection or give reasons for any rejection. The rules may change without notice and the team reserves the right to withdraw or include selected films from the programme if required.
The festival is flexible about premiere status and prior screenings. Works do not need to be exclusive to SCAFF, and can have appeared at other festivals or online. If a film is selected, creators are asked to make a reasonable effort to supply stills, posters and other publicity assets, and to participate in interviews or news activity to help promote their screenings and the festival at large.
The entry pack requests a concise set of details with each submission. Filmmakers should provide the title, genre, duration and a one line description, as well as the full name of the submitter and current phone and email contacts. SCAFF encourages prospective entrants to read the rules carefully before sending materials and to keep copies of everything submitted. Where there are multiple works from the same team, each one needs its own complete entry.
Beyond the screenings, SCAFF positions itself as a meeting point for filmmakers and audiences who care about representation on screen. The talks and panels aim to draw out practical insights from the Australian industry on everything from pathways into production to how diverse stories find funding and audiences. Business stalls and sponsorship opportunities will be available during the festival dates, and the public programme often includes performance elements such as singing, dancing, fashion and drumming to add to the filmgoing experience.
For filmmakers seeking a local festival with an outward looking brief, SCAFF offers a low barrier to entry and a clear set of expectations. For audiences, it is a chance to watch new stories and hear from the people who make them. Entries are open now and remain free. The closing date is 6 November 2025, with the festival running from 14 to 16 November.
Further details, including submission instructions and updates, are available through SCAFF’s official channels, including skga.org.au and the festival’s social media pages listed on the event artwork.
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