Prizes and criteria

Criteria

Judging Criteria

The judges of the Spiritus Short Film Prize make awards to films and to filmmakers according to the following criteria:

  • High artistic quality

    The judges consider the artistic talent and technical skill manifested by the director and the film-makers. Films which receive awards should be of high artistic quality.

  • Wisdom for the common good

    The judges encourage films which lend expression to a human viewpoint or stimulate debate, raise audience consciousness of the transcendent dimensions of life and/or portray spiritual values in keeping with the mission of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture expressed in the theme: wisdom for the common good.

  • Human and planetary flourishing

    The judges encourage films which dramatise human values and contribute to human well-being concerning:

    • respect for human dignity and human rights;
    • solidarity with minorities, disadvantaged and oppressed people;
    • support for liberation, justice, peace and reconciliation;
    • preserving creation and the environment.
  • Universal impact

    Films which reflect their local culture, help audiences to respect the language and the images of that culture and, at the same time, seek a universal impact beyond their national or local context.

  • Inventive expression

    Together with the above criteria, the judges take into consideration a film's intention, choice of issues, story-telling and whether they are convincing and show inventive expression.

Prizes

There are five categories and five prizes. Entrants may enter more than one category and can receive more than one prize.

The judges award prizes for categories 1 – 5. Prizes for some categories may not be awarded.

  • 1. Regional Australia – Prize for entries outside a capital City
  • 2.18 years and under – For Australian nationals and residents aged 18 years and under
  • 3. Spiritus Short Film Prize – Open
  • 4. Spiritus Short Film Prize – Highly Commended
  • 5. Spiritus Short Film Prize – Commended

Conditions

  1. All films for all categories will not exceed 10 minutes in length (including credits).
  2. All film entries for all categories need to follow the criteria set out below.
  3. Entrants to the prize must enter their film in the category or categories that they rightfully fit in to. Entrants must provide supporting evidence of age and address.
  4. The producer and any authorised person has obtained from each contributor the authorisation to use of image, sound, performance and the reproduction of said image, sound, performance.
  5. The producer and any authorised person is the owner, has authorisation or license from the owner of the copyright in the sound recordings comprising the soundtrack to the film.
  6. Where clearances for the use of talent, images or music are necessary, those forms must accompany the film. Films that do not have copyright approval will not be accepted.
  7. By entering this festival, entrants reserve the right for Spiritus to screen excerpts from their film/s for promotion of the festival of the current year.
  8. The entrant will create a profile on FilmFreeway and upload their film. If chosen for viewing, or an award they will be contacted by the organisers with further instructions.
  9. By entering this competition, all finalists give the ACC&C permission to show their film at the Award night in Canberra.

Entries to the 2025 Spiritus Short Film Award are now open.

To enter a film in the 2025 Spiritus Short Film Award, the film must be made after 1 January 2024.