Lights! Canberra! Action!
Lights! Canberra! Action! kicked off the Canberra Day Long Weekend on Friday 6 March, 2026, bringing a vibrant celebration of local filmmaking to the Senate Rose Garden.
A huge thank you to the talented filmmakers who took on the challenge, the artists, crews, partners and sponsors who helped deliver the event, and to everyone who came along to support and celebrate. From live music to the screening of this year’s finalist films, it was a fantastic night under the stars.
Congratulations to this year’s winners, listed below, whose creativity and storytelling stood out among a strong field of entries. You can view the final twelve finalist films here.
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2026 Award Winners & Sponsors
The Screen Canberra Award for Best Film
THE SURVEY
Sam Hosking, Producer
The University of Canberra People’s Choice Award
We Don’t Take Cash
Alistair Lauro & Asheesh Saxena, Producers
The Enlighten Festival Creative Director Award for Best Use of Theme
THE SURVEY
Sam Hosking, Producer
The University of Canberra Award for Best Student Film
WHAT WAITS THERE?
Rico Lacock, Producer
The EMA Architects Award for Inclusive Film
The WONDER-BOX
Isaac Travers, Producer, David Hatherly, Director
The Dendy Cinemas Award for Best Under 18s Film
CURIOUS BUNNY & THE GIANT CARROT
Gwendolyn Lamb, Producer
The Burley & Brave Award for Best Use of an Item
The Platypus in ‘River Child’
Jack Downie & Ruby Taylor, Producers
The Crux Media Award for Best Director
Sam Hosking for The Survey
The Eclipse Sound & Lighting Award for Best Sound Design
Corey Petersen-Shaw for Lost Cat
The Canberra Theatre Centre Award for Best Original Music
Josephine Philp for Implant
The Enemies of Reality Films Female Filmmaker Award
Sam Hosking: Producer, Director, Writer, Cinematographer & Production Designer of The Survey
The Perform Australia Award for Best Performance
Jack Downie in River Child
The Metropolis Studios & Co Award for Best Cinematography
Jack Ellis for River Child
The Missing Bits Award for Best Screenplay
Paul Martin for The Lights are On
The Dendy Cinemas Award for Best Editing
Max Jasinski for We Don’t Take Cash
Marisa Martin Art & Design Award for Best Art Direction
John Silvestro for The Death of Me
The Academy of Interactive Entertainment Award for Best Animation or Visual Effects
LOST CAT
Les Petersen, Producer
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