Focus on Ability 2026

Red Carpet Awards

One afternoon, on a big screen, in front of a room that came to watch. The films that won this year's festival are screened and their awards are handed over in person, to the people who made them.

Registration opens shortly. Ask us to let you know, or check the screenings page.

Watch live Watch the films View the festival program

The festival finale

The afternoon itself

Filmmakers, families, judges, sponsors and the crews who spent months on a five-minute film all end up in the same room, and the films are shown the way they were meant to be shown: large, loud, and with an audience reacting around you.

Most of the people accepting an award have never been to something like this before. That is rather the point. There is a red carpet at the front, photographs on arrival, and every winning filmmaker is called up by name.

You do not need to have entered a film to come. If you have watched the films, voted, taught a class that entered, or simply want to see what a year of this looks like on a big screen, the invitation is open.

A welcome from the city

We’re incredibly proud to welcome the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival Red Carpet Awards to Chatswood. This festival is such a powerful celebration of talent, creativity and storytelling, while challenging the way we think about disability and ability. It gives people with disability the opportunity to be seen, heard and represented through stories that entertain, inspire and change perspectives. That focus on inclusion and celebrating the contribution of every person is something that resonates for me personally, as well as for Willoughby City Council, and we’re delighted to be part of it.

Tanya Taylor Mayor, Willoughby City Council

What happens on the day

How the afternoon runs

  1. Arrivals Doors open and guests walk the red carpet. Photographs are taken on arrival and shared afterwards.
  2. Welcome The festival opens the afternoon and introduces the year's competition.
  3. Screening The finalists and winning films are shown on the big screen, grouped by category.
  4. Awards Each award is announced and presented on stage, with filmmakers invited up to accept.
  5. Refreshments Food and drinks are served, and there is time to meet the filmmakers, judges and guests.

Presenting this year's awards.

Celebrity Presenters

  • Lynne McGranger Irene Roberts on Home and Away for 33 years, and the 2025 Gold Logie winner
  • John Jarratt Actor and director. Picnic at Hanging Rock, Wolf Creek, and What About Sal
  • Christie Dawes Wheelchair racer across seven Paralympic Games, and a primary school teacher
  • Gerard O'Dwyer Best Male Actor at Tropfest for Be My Brother, and the lead in What About Sal
  • James Stewart Actor. Home and Away, Packed to the Rafters, and a Helpmann Award winner
  • Ada Nicodemo Leah Patterson on Home and Away, and before that Heartbreak High
  • Emma Myers Disability rights reporter, and co-creator of the SBS series Latecomers
  • Nick Hardcastle Actor and host, on stage and screen and across children's television
  • Tony Bonner Actor and acting coach, with a career spanning more than forty years

Refreshments

Refreshments are provided and are included - there is nothing to pay on the day. Let us know about any dietary requirements when you register.

Free to attend

Come along

The event is free. We only ask you to register so we know how many seats to set out and how much food to order. There is nothing to pay, at any point.

Registration opens shortly. Ask us to let you know.

Every other festival screening is free too, and there are dates around the country.

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