MIFF Awards

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The MIFF Awards recognise filmmaking excellence across a suite of award categories. These include the festival’s prestigious Bright Horizons Award, supported by VicScreen; the Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award; The Uncle Jack Charles Award in collaboration with Kearney Group; and the Intrepid Audience Award; the MIFF Shorts Awards; and the MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award, presented by Collarts.

Bright Horizons Award

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Presented by VicScreen, the flagship Bright Horizons Award celebrates filmmakers on the ascent, as chosen from within the Bright Horizons film competition. Awarding A$140,000 to the winner, it is one of the most substantial film prizes in the world.

Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award

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The Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award recognises an outstanding Australian director of a film playing in the MIFF 2025 program with a A$50,000 cash prize and a fully kitted URSA Cine 12K camera valued at A$27,500.

The Uncle Jack Charles Award

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The Uncle Jack Charles Award in collaboration with Kearney Group recognises an outstanding Australian First Nations creative within a film playing in the MIFF 2025 program. The recipient is awarded a A$20,000 cash prize and A$25,000 worth of financial services with Kearney Group.

Intrepid Audience Award

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Don’t waste good taste! MIFF’s much-loved Audience Award, presented by Intrepid, will be awarded to the creative team behind viewers’ favourite film from this year’s program, as determined through online and app votes.

MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award

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Presented by Collarts, this award recognises the best title from the MIFF Schools program, as selected by a jury comprised of the winners of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s Top Screen. The winning film receives a $10,000 cash prize.