We hope you find the answers to the most frequently asked questions helpful. If your question isn’t here, get in touch.
Yes! A documentary short is a short film and you are welcome to submit it into the Open Short Film category (Under 13 Minutes). If it is shortlisted, it will be competing against short films in this category.
It’s possible that we may accept a short film whose runtime is slightly over the 13-minute limit due to opening/end credits. However, during our competitive selection process, if we face a decision between two similarly strong films, and one meets the duration criteria while the other doesn’t, the film that ticks all the boxes will take priority.
Yes, it can! If it meets the guidelines, and fits into one of the categories, we welcome projects that highlight any region of Western Australia.
The central element of the project must be filmed or “set” within Western Australia.
If it meets our guidelines, yes you can.
If you have filmed, created or set your project in Western Australia, we would love to see your animated short film. As with any other project, your submission will be eligible if you have obtained a licence or permission for all visuals you use (which, for instance, would exclude things like AI-generated imagery from databases compiled without consent.)
The central element of the project must be filmed or “set” within Western Australia.
You must be a student at the time of submission to our film festival to be eligible for the Student category.
For any films which feature coarse language, mature themes, violence or horror elements, we will determine how appropriate it is for a general audience during the review process. If it is shortlisted, it is possible it will come with a content warning for mature audiences.
You’ll find the full festival guidelines on our FilmFreeway page.
Upload your video project to our FilmFreeway submission page and follow the prompts from there.
You will receive a confirmation email from us to say we have received your entry. If you don’t receive this email, it means it has not been received. The email will contain information about the next step.
Sometime in the weeks following the deadline on 31 July 2026, we will contact you to let you know whether or not your project(s) have been shortlisted.
Shortlisting does not constitute being a finalist. Being shortlisted means your project has been chosen to screen on the big screen at the cinema with Rock The Boat Film Festival. The shortlisted projects from all regions are then assessed by an independent judging panel, and from there finalists are chosen from each category.
Submissions for 2026 close 31 July 2026.
We acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which our office stands. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and community. We pay our respects to their cultures, and to Elders past, present, and emerging. We extend this respect to all Indigenous language groups.