2026 AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition winners announced
2026 AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition winners announced
South Australia's next generation of filmmakers took to the big screen at the AFF Youth Gala on Thursday 22 October, with the winners of the 2026 AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition announced at The Mercury.
Bringing together young filmmakers, families, friends and supporters, the evening celebrated the creativity and storytelling of South Australian students, with ten nominated short films screened as part of the 2026 Adelaide Film Festival.
Returning for her third year as host, Jess McCall from South Australian youth arts television program BTS with Jess guided audiences through the evening, which began with a Welcome to Spirit of Place by Jakirah Warruyu Telfer, who comes from the dry forest clan, Mullawirra Meyunna, of the Kaurna People of the Adelaide plains region.
The pink carpet welcomed filmmakers and guests before and after the screening, providing an opportunity to celebrate the young talent behind the films.
Celebrating the next generation of filmmakers
The AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition provides an opportunity for South Australian primary and secondary school students to develop their filmmaking skills, share their stories and see their work presented on the big screen.
The 2026 AFF Youth Jury, comprising Madeleine Howard-Smith, Nikita Nguyen, Chloe Brumfield, Lillian Hoare, Bethany Lines and Eve Raeburn, were responsible for selecting the nominated films and award winners across the Primary, Middle and Senior School categories.
2026 AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition winners
Best Primary School Film
$500 prize presented by The Mercury
WINNER: The Magical Wishing Stone
By Michaela Edwards-O'Keeffe and Molly Stephen
Prospect North Primary School
Directed by Michaela Edwards-O'Keeffe and Molly Stephen, The Magical Wishing Stone follows a group of Reception students who discover a mysterious stone capable of making their wildest wishes come true. As their wishes unfold in surprising and hilarious ways, the children discover that kindness and friendship are the greatest magic of all.
2026 Nominees:
The Magical Wishing Stone — Michaela Edwards-O'Keeffe and Molly Stephen, Prospect North Primary School
Last to Leave — Shreya Rananavare, Prospect North Primary School
Tiles and Soap — Chloe Xia, Kara Birch and Clara Tree, Kidman Park Primary School
Get Me Out Of Here! — Ellie Stokes, Kidman Park Primary School
Best Middle School Film
$500 prize presented by AFTRS
WINNER: Under the Maghrib Sky
By Rayeed Alam
IQRA College
Set against the South Australian sky at the beginning of Ramadan, Under the Maghrib Sky follows a young boy navigating the loss of his mother and the growing distance between himself and his grieving father. Through a moving exploration of faith, family and acceptance, the film reflects on finding a way forward through grief.
2026 Nominees:
Lipstick on a Pig — Isla Bentham, Glenunga International High School
Under the Maghrib Sky — Rayeed Alam, IQRA College
Best Senior School Film
$500 prize presented by Adelaide University
WINNER: The Stalk
By Sadie Kirkpatrick
Seaton High School
A suspenseful journey into the unknown, The Stalk follows two friends who find more than they bargained for while collecting mushrooms for a science project. With danger lurking in the darkness of the forest, their seemingly ordinary adventure takes an unexpected turn.
2026 Nominees:
The Stalk — Sadie Kirkpatrick, Seaton High School
Spelunking — William Nguyen, Samar Sharma, Sam Signoriello and Hugo Ng, Glenunga International High School
DENIAL — Növa Angelina Bransden, Seaton High School
Bottle Syndrome — Joshua Pullino, Prince Alfred College
People's Choice Award
$1,000 prize presented by Westpac
WINNER: The Magical Wishing Stone
By Michaela Edwards-O'Keeffe and Molly Stephen
Prospect North Primary School
Voted for by audiences attending the AFF Youth Gala, the People's Choice Award recognises the film that resonated most with those in the room.
Taking home its second award of the evening, The Magical Wishing Stone was named the 2026 People's Choice winner, adding to its Best Primary School Film win.
All ten nominated films screened at the Gala were eligible for the People's Choice Award.
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees of the 2026 AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition, and to the young filmmakers, schools, teachers and families who helped bring these stories to the screen.
Thank you to the AFF Youth Jury for their time, thoughtful consideration and contribution to this year's competition, and to our award partners The Mercury, AFTRS, Adelaide University and Westpac for supporting the next generation of South Australian filmmakers.
Through AFF Youth, Adelaide Film Festival continues to provide opportunities for young people to explore cinema, develop their creative voices and share their stories with audiences.