2026 World Paddling Film Festival comes to Bondi Pavilion, and with it, your opportunity to create an award-winning short film

B2
13 hours ago
1 min read

November 2025

Bondi Pavilion will be the first Australian stop of the 2026 World Paddling Film Festival Tour on Wednesday April 8 this year from 6pm, hosted by Shark Island Paddlers.

And your film could be on the big screen!!!!!!!!!!

The World Paddling Film Festival Tour brings award-winning films to communities around the globe. Audiences witness 20 or so of the best short (2-22 minute) paddling-themed films from over 800 global competitive entries. Since 2006, it's screened over 1,000 times to more than 300,000 audience members.

With support from the Waverley Council Small Grants program, we shall also be running an exciting competition for local filmmakers to create a short film specifically for this event.

Filmmakers are encouraged to submit a 3-6 minute short film on ANY paddling subject or discipline. That means surf skis, stand-ups, rafts, kayaks……almost anything that floats!!

Judging will focus on storytelling, originality, direction and cinematic vision, technical quality, production design, messaging/impact, overall execution and relevance to Waverley local precinct opportunities and waterways.

The winning entry will be featured in the 2026 World Paddling Film Festival, hosted by Shark Island Paddlers at Bondi Pavilion on Wednesday, April 8, 2026

And CASH prizes will also be on offer:

BEST FILM $2,000

RUNNER UP $1,000

ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD $500

BEST UNDER 18 SUBMISSION $500

Entries must be received by March 1, 2026.

Entry form: https://form.jotform.com/253058471196866

For more information, contact:

Greg Dolgopolov Grrisha@gmail.com

Andrew Sully sully.andrew@gmail.com

FURTHER INFORMATION

Shark Island Paddlers https://www.sharkislandpaddlers.com.au/