SmallRig Co-Presents 14th International Smartphone Film Festival

The 14th International Smartphone Film Festival, co-presented by SmallRig and the Mobile Innovation Network and Association (MINA), will take place from October 24 to 29, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. This year’s festival focuses on the intersection of mobile imaging technology and artistic expression, providing a global platform for creators to connect and innovate within the realm of mobile cinematography.

The festival will showcase an impressive selection of 57 smartphone films from around the world, presented through screenings, academic panels, and cross-cultural exchange programs at various venues. The main screenings will occur at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and Federation Square. On the opening day, ACMI will host the International Mobile Innovation Screening, featuring 14 films from 12 countries, including Chile, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Nigeria, China, and the United Kingdom.

From October 27 to 29, screenings will continue at Federation Square, where audiences can enjoy 43 mobile films categorized into three special sections: New Voices, Creative Category, and #EcoSmartphoneFilms. Additionally, the festival will feature the Innovation Category and the screening titled “Youth United Will Never Be Defeated.” Alongside film presentations, the event will host a series of industry networking opportunities.

On the opening day, an international roundtable will bring together mobile storytellers, filmmakers, and industry professionals to discuss emerging trends in screen storytelling, such as generative AI and computational creativity.

Zhou Yang, Founder of SmallRig, stated, “Smartphone filmmaking’s accessibility enables more great stories to be told in a lighter, more personal way. Beginning with professional camera accessories, we’ve seen mobile shooting grow into an integral part of everyday creation.” He emphasized SmallRig’s commitment to innovation in mobile shooting solutions, aiming to make filmmaking more personal and universal.

Founded in 2013, SmallRig specializes in providing creators with solutions for camera and phone mounting, steadying rigs, lighting systems, imaging device batteries, and audio equipment. The company’s products are utilized in over 160 countries, catering to various applications from livestreaming and vlogging to documentaries and Hollywood productions.

The International Smartphone Film Festival, established in Australia, has dedicated its previous 13 editions to promoting mobile filmmaking culture. It supports diverse creative expressions across narrative, non-narrative, and experimental genres. With its affordability and rapid technological advancements, smartphone filmmaking is facilitating new forms of storytelling and fostering inclusivity in content creation.

Interest in smartphone film production continues to surge, as evidenced by a remarkable 97.56% increase in submissions to this year’s festival compared to the previous year. The festival serves as a bridge between academia and public engagement through screenings, discussions, and hybrid online-offline events, offering a vital glimpse into the future of mobile filmmaking.

As the longest-running event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the International Smartphone Film Festival is dedicated to advancing smartphone filmmaking and mobile media production globally. It highlights a wide range of creative fields, showcasing films created with smartphones, mobile devices, and compact cameras, including moving image art, documentaries, community storytelling, and experimental screen productions. The festival also features emerging media, such as drone cinematography, augmented reality, mobile virtual reality, and mobile AI, further emphasizing its role in shaping the future of visual storytelling.