The Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF), presented by M+C Saatchi Group, will return on 16 September 2025 in Sydney, celebrating its fifth year with a program focused on female talent in front of and behind the camera.
The event will be hosted by actor Chika Ikogwe. The 2025 judging panel includes producer Camilla Mazzafferro (Porcelain War, Girls Can’t Surf), actor Charlee Fraser (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Foxtel Group’s head of scripted originals Lana Greenhalgh, and Screen Australia’s director of narrative content Louise Gough.
Co-Founders Tahyna Tozzi MacManus and Kelly Tomasich said: “Reaching our fifth year is more than a milestone — it’s a testament to the extraordinary talent, creativity, and resilience of women in film. AWFF has always been about one thing: creating space for women to lead, tell their stories, and be heard.
“This moment only deepens our commitment to a more inclusive, powerful future for women in cinema”
Greenhalgh said of being a judge for the 2025 AWFF Awards: “AWFF continues to be a vital platform for diverse, female-led storytelling. I’m excited to witness the innovation, courage, and passion behind this year’s entries.”
Fraser added: “I’m deeply honoured to be part of this year’s Australian Women’s Film Festival. Championing women’s voices in film is absolutely vital for the future of our storytelling, and I’m thrilled to help spotlight the incredible creativity and bold perspectives these filmmakers bring to life. I’m tremendously excited to celebrate these powerful voices.”
This year’s Trailblazer Award will go to cinematographer Mandy Walker, while Like a Photon Creative co-founders Nadine Bates and Kristen Souvlis will receive the Groundbreaker Award.
With the generous support of major prize sponsors, the winner of the Best Film at AWFF 2025 will have a big head start on their next film with their very own SONY ILME-FX6 Cinema Line camera, a $10,000 equipment rental package from VA Hire, a $10,000 rental package from Disney Lighting, and a $5,000 post-production package from Spectrum Films.
Additional awards will be given for Best Drama, Documentary, Comedy, and Animation. Individual categories will also be recognised.
Sponsors include M+C Saatchi Group, Screen NSW, Sony, Event Cinemas, Disney Studios Australia and Amazon Web Services.
Top image: Left – Chika Ikogwe. Top left: Charlee Fraser, Camilla Mazzaferro, Lana Greenhalgh, Louise Gough