From 6pm Friday May 1 to 6pm Monday May 4 2026, the Sign on Screen 72-hour Film Challenge invited any Australia-based Deaf and hard of hearing filmmakers to come together, collaborate, and create an original short film inspired by a mystery theme, revealed at the very start of the challenge: “unlocking”. The challenge was inspired by our creative partners at Flow Festival, who ran a 48-hour Film Challenge in 2025. Working in teams of three or more, with at least three Deaf or hard of hearing creatives in key roles such as director, writer, producer or cinematographer, participants had one weekend to write, shoot, edit and submit a film of any genre of up to 5 minutes in length. We received six amazing entries, with two films sharing the winning spot. The winners were screened at the Opening Night of the Sign on Screen Film Festival at the National Film and Sound Archive on Friday May 22 2026 and all submissions were included on the Mediatheque loop playing throughout the festival. All films are being added to the NFSA’s national collection and are free to view below. Many thanks and congratulations to our 2026 filmmakers, including star promoter, Lauren Toni!
Overall Winner 1: Access Unlocked, Ned Ferrier
Overall Winner 2: Unlocking the Real World, Melissa Bryson and Otis, Jagger and Lefroy Alford
Best Cinematography: Rememory, Sue Wright
Best Editing: A Very Very Bad Night, Chloe Heywood
Best Acting: Perspective
Best Production Design: If I Had Said, Anastasia Lekontseva
