Rock The Boat Film Festival 2026

ROCK THE BOAT FILM FESTIVAL - Season 5

A short film festival supporting emerging WA filmmakers.

Click on FESTIVAL PROGRAM to view this year's Official Selection.

For tickets to Screenings click "Get Tickets" now.

Click on AWARDS NIGHT and "Get Tickets" to secure a spot at our annual red carpet event.

Saturday, 12th September, Opening Night - Networking & Connections, Media Wall, Official Opening Ceremony & Screening, Q&A with the filmmakers, People's Choice Voting

This screening has CC (Subtitles)

Sunday 13th September, Student Session - Networking & Connections, Media Wall, Student Day (a celebration of under 18s filmmakers) Screening, Q&A with the filmmakers, People's Choice Voting,

Saturday, 19th September, Session 3: Connection - Networking & Connections, Media Wall, Screening, Q&A with the filmmakers, People's Choice Voting

Sunday, 20th September, Session 4: Resilience - Networking & Connections, Wall, Screening, Q&A with the filmmakers, People's Choice Voting

Saturday, 24th October, Awards Night - Red Carpet-Black Tie Event, Media Wall, Event Photographer, Delicious Food. Networking & Connections, Awards Ceremony. Closing Night.

This screening has CC (Subtitles)

Tickets are available for each session, sold separately. Or, if you would like to experience the entire event, a festival pass, offering one session for free is available.

Networking details to be updated soon.

ACE HOYTS Rockingham

6:00 pm

Tickets $25 ($22.90 + $2.10 booking fee)

2 hr 30 min

This screening has CC (Subtitles)

Ceremony and Screening

Registration from 5:40 pm

Doors to Cinema Open 6:00 pm

Media Wall available to take photos. Roaming Event Photographer, Official Opening Ceremony, Opening Night Screening, Filmmaker Q&A, In-Cinema People’s Choice Voting

Popcorn, drinks, and snacks can be purchased from the ACE HOYTS candy bar.

Please note: Anyone under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Viewer discretion is advised.

5:40 pm — Registrations open.

6:00 pm — Doors open.

Please note: There is no seat allocation for general admission.

6:15 pm — Official Opening Ceremony and event photographer captures audience photo.

6:30 pm — The first screening for 2026 commences.

8:50 pm — Opening Night for RTBFF 2025 officially concludes.

Networking & Connections: Some of the RTBFF crew and other filmmakers will carry on networking and making new connections at a venue just metres away from the cinema. Everyone's welcome to join us and make the most of the gathering and new connections. We will also be gathering prior to the event from 4:30pm for those who would like to connect with us and other filmmakers. Details on this soon!

Please notify us if you do not wish for yourself or your child to be featured in photographs or recordings.

There is a 'no refund' policy on tickets. However, should your situation change and you cannot attend the night you are welcome to pass your ticket onto someone else.

Event program may be subject to change or slight variation.

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ACE HOYTS Rockingham

4:00 pm

Tickets

Adults $25 ($22.90 + $2.10 booking fee)

Students $17 ($15.24 + $1.76 booking fee)

2 hr 30 min

Please note: Anyone under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Viewer discretion is advised.

Media Wall available to take photos, screening, filmmaker Q&A, In-Cinema People’s Choice Voting.

Popcorn, drinks, and snacks can be purchased from the ACE HOYTS candy bar.

3:40 pm — Registrations open.

4:00 pm — Doors open.

Please note: There is no seat allocation for general admission.

4:15 pm — Screening commences.

6:45 pm — Student Day concludes.

Networking & Connections: Some of the RTBFF crew and other filmmakers will carry on networking and making new connections at a venue just metres away from the cinema. Everyone's welcome to join us and make the most of the gathering and new connections. We will also be gathering prior to the event from 2:30pm for those who would like to connect with us and other filmmakers. Details on this soon!

Please notify us if you do not wish for yourself or your child to be featured in photographs or recordings.

There is a 'no refund' policy on tickets. However, should your situation change and you cannot attend the night you are welcome to pass your ticket onto someone else.

Event program may be subject to change or slight variation.

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Session 3

6:00 pm

Tickets $25 ($22.90 + $2.10 booking fee)

2 hr 30 min

Please note: Anyone under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Viewer discretion is advised.

Media Wall available to take photos, screening, filmmaker Q&A, In-Cinema People’s Choice Voting.

Popcorn, drinks, and snacks can be purchased from the ACE HOYTS candy bar.

5:40 pm — Registrations open.

6:00 pm — Doors open.

Please note: There is no seat allocation for general admission.

6:15 pm — Screening commences

8:50 pm — Saturday at the Movies concludes.

Networking & Connections : Some of the RTBFF crew and other filmmakers will carry on networking and making new connections at a venue just metres away from the cinema. Everyone's welcome to join us and make the most of the gathering and new connections. We will also be gathering prior to the event from 4:30pm for those who would like to connect with us and other filmmakers. Details on this soon!

Please notify us if you do not wish for yourself or your child to be featured in photographs or recordings.

There is a 'no refund' policy on tickets. However, should your situation change and you cannot attend the night you are welcome to pass your ticket onto someone else.

Event program may be subject to change or slight variation.

****************************

ACE HOYTS Rockingham

4:00 pm

Tickets

Adults $25 ($22.90 + $2.10 booking fee)

2 hr 30 min

Please note: Anyone under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Viewer discretion is advised.

Media Wall available to take photos, screening, filmmaker Q&A, In-Cinema People’s Choice Voting.

Popcorn, drinks, and snacks can be purchased from the ACE HOYTS candy bar.

3:40 pm — Registrations open.

4:00 pm — Doors open.

Please note: There is no seat allocation for general admission.

4:15 pm — Screening commences.

6:45 pm — Sunday Session concludes.

Networking & Connections: Some of the RTBFF crew and other filmmakers will carry on networking and making new connections at a venue just metres away from the cinema. Everyone's welcome to join us and make the most of the gathering and new connections. We will also be gathering prior to the event from 4:30pm for those who would like to connect with us and other filmmakers. Details on this soon!

Please notify us if you do not wish for yourself or your child to be featured in photographs or recordings.

There is a 'no refund' policy on tickets. However, should your situation change and you cannot attend the night you are welcome to pass your ticket onto someone else.

Event program may be subject to change or slight variation.

ACE HOYTS Rockingham

Registrations from

6:00 pm

Red Carpet

6:15 pm Sharp!

Tickets

Adults $50 ($46.85 + $3.15 booking fee)

4 hrs 15mins

This screening has CC (Subtitles)

Under 15s must be accompanied by an adult. Viewer discretion is advised.

Link to order tickets here: AWARDS NIGHT TICKETS

For our fifth year in a row, Rock The Boat Film Festival will conclude with a black-tie, red-carpet awards ceremony where finalists are screened and winners are awarded. If there’s just one event this year to dress up for, this is it!

Our Event Photographer will begin taking photos on the red carpet at 6:15 pm sharp, ensuring you capture your red-carpet moment. These images will be made available for download, free to keep or share as you wish.

Upon arrival inside the cinema, there will be a selection of delicious finger foods and a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage waiting for you. This pre-ceremony time provides a fantastic opportunity for further networking the with festival guests.

At 7:00 pm, guests will be seated for the awards ceremony and screenings, where main category finalists will be presented, as well as further Awards of Recognition and the announcement of our first-ever International Short Film Exchange Program recipients.

There will be a 20 minute comfort break during the ceremony, whereby any confectionary or water can be purchased from ACE HOYTS candy bar. The cinema space is a non-licensed area. and if purchasing an alcoholic beverage from the Gold Lounge during the break, it must be consumed within the Gold Lounge area.

Networking: Some of us will be gather from 5:00 pm for networking before the official red-carpet starts, and we will have more details on this soon! There will also be lots of networking happening between 6:30 - 7:15 pm inside the cinema while enjoying a bit to eat.

10:30 pm — Rock The Boat Film Festival concludes for 2026!

Please notify us if you do not wish for yourself or your child to be featured in photographs or recordings.

There is a 'no refund' policy on tickets. However, should your situation change and you cannot attend the night you are welcome to pass your ticket onto someone else, and notify us of the change of name and details.

Event program may be subject to change or slight variation.