About the ATOM Awards
Since 1982, the ATOM Awards have celebrated excellence in screen content, recognising outstanding achievements across education, industry, and emerging creative practice throughout Australia and New Zealand.
As the second-longest-running screen awards program in Australia, the ATOM Awards have a proud history of championing innovation, creativity, storytelling, and media literacy. They provide a unique platform where students, educators, independent creators, and industry professionals are recognised alongside one another, reflecting ATOM’s commitment to supporting screen culture at every stage of the creative journey.
The Awards showcase excellence across a diverse range of categories, including film, television, animation, documentary, educational resources, digital media, and emerging screen formats.
The ATOM Awards continue to celebrate the power of screen stories to educate, inspire, challenge, and connect audiences, while recognising the creators shaping the future of media and screen production.
Want to participate as an ATOM Awards Judge? Express your interest here!
Key Dates & Details
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Call for entries: Monday 13th July
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Close of entries: Friday 25th September
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Finalists announced: Tuesday 6th October
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Awards and Presentation Night: Friday 30th October, 2026
Major Awards Categories
Best Picture: Junior
Best Picture: Middle
Best Picture: Senior
Best Picture: Tertiary
Additional Awards Categories (open to all age categories)
Best Fictional Film: Screen Story Award
Best Documentary: Documentary Impact Award
Best Animation: Animated Vision Award
Best Music Video: Music on Screen Award
Judges' Award: ATOM Judges' Choice Award
Emerging Screen Writer Award: Emerging Storyteller Award
Cinematography Award: Visual Excellence Award
Best Direction: Directorial Excellence Award
Best Sound Design/Original Score: Sound and Music Award
Best Actor: Performance Award
Best Editing: Editing Excellence Award









