Heart of Gold Unveils 2026 Short Film Programme for 20th Anniversary Edition

The Australian festival will mark two decades with nine days of screenings, filmmaker events and community programming in Gympie from 12 to 20 September.

Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival has released its 2026 programme ahead of a nine-day anniversary edition in regional Queensland.

The festival will run from 12 to 20 September 2026 in Gympie, Australia, marking 20 years since its launch in 2006. Its newly published film schedule includes international, Australian, documentary, animation, comedy, student and family-focused sessions, alongside talks, workshops, live performances and community events.

For filmmakers, the programme launch confirms the principal screening sessions, venues and selected-film details after submissions closed at the end of May.

A nine-day anniversary edition

Heart of Gold describes itself as Australia’s largest regional short-film festival. The 2026 edition expands across nine days, with activity centred in Gympie’s town centre and screenings scheduled at the Gympie Senior Citizens Centre.

The main short-film programme begins with a free Student Film Showcase on 13 September, followed by the principal festival sessions from 18 to 20 September.

The published sessions include:

• International Gold
• Reel Stories
• Sunshine State
• Around the World
• Animation
• Chucklers
• Solid Gold
• Late Night Gold
• Kool 4 Kids
• Quirky, Weird & Wonderful
• Screeners Picks

A Schools Day programme is also scheduled for 18 September.

International and Australian shorts share the programme

The International Gold session will screen on 18 September at 2.30pm, bringing together films from countries including Türkiye, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iran, Brazil and Canada.

The festival’s Australian programming is divided across several strands, including Sunshine State for Queensland filmmakers, Solid Gold for Australian shorts, Chucklers for comedy and Late Night Gold for work intended for mature audiences. (Heart of Gold)

Documentary shorts have a dedicated place in the Reel Stories session, while animation is presented through a separate adult-focused programme rather than being treated only as children’s entertainment.

Heart of Gold’s programme also includes selected secondary-school films and work presented in collaboration with the STUFFit Student Film Festival.

Community screeners influence the selection

One of the festival’s distinctive programming features is its use of volunteer community screeners.

More than 40 volunteers watch and rate submitted films, with their assessments helping to shape the final selection. The Screeners Picks session on 20 September will present favourites emerging from that process.

For filmmakers, this introduces an audience-oriented element to selection alongside the festival’s curatorial process.

Awards and filmmaker opportunities

Heart of Gold received films of up to 25 minutes for its 2026 edition. Submissions are now closed.

The announced awards include:

• Best International Short Film — A$1,500
• Best Australian Short Film — A$1,500
• Best Queensland Short Film — A$1,500
• Best Documentary Short Film — A$500
• Best Animation Short Film — A$500
• Best Comedy Short Film — A$500
• Best Secondary Student Short Film — A$500
• Screeners’ Pick Award — A$500
• Audience Choice Award — A$500

A selection of films may also be taken on tour to other events across Queensland after the main festival.

Selection or screening at Heart of Gold does not provide an Academy Awards or BAFTA qualification route, but the festival offers filmmakers an established Australian exhibition platform and potential access to regional touring audiences.

Attendance and next steps

Individual screening-session tickets are available through the festival’s official programme, with times and venue information listed for each strand.

Filmmakers with work in the programme should monitor direct communications from the festival for screening-master requirements, accreditation, attendance details and awards information.

Audiences planning to attend should consult the official schedule carefully, as the programme is spread across several days and includes both free and ticketed events.

Heart of Gold’s 20th anniversary edition will take place in Gympie, Queensland, from 12 to 20 September 2026.