Australian documentaries Focus and Road Trip share the NOVA Employment Choice Award, while filmmakers from Spain, Thailand and the United States are among the international winners.

The 2026 Focus on Ability Short Film Festival has celebrated its winners at a star-studded awards ceremony at The Concourse in Chatswood, Sydney, recognising filmmakers from Australia and around the world whose work highlights the experiences, creativity and achievements of people with disability.

Presented by NOVA Employment, this year’s festival attracted 240 submissions from 26 countries, with entries spanning short films and documentaries of less than five minutes.

The awards were presented on Sunday by a line-up of Australian entertainment personalities, including festival ambassador Paula Duncan AM, Lynne McGranger, Ada Nicodemou, James Stewart, John Jarratt, Tony Bonner AM, Nick Hardcastle, Gerard O’Dwyer, Christie Dawes and others.

Two Australian documentaries shared the festival’s NOVA Employment Choice Award, with Zac Stevenson’s Focus and Alex Sideratos’ Road Trip jointly recognised.

Focus follows Kai, a young entrepreneur with autism and dyslexia who established Kaiko Fidgets, a business creating sensory products specifically designed for the neurodivergent community.

Sideratos’ Road Trip explores the experiences of a young man with autism as he navigates social interactions and discovers meaningful employment that allows his skills and expertise to flourish.

Both films were recognised with the NOVA Employment Choice Award, which carries a $5,000 cash prize.

The Judges Choice Award for Best Short Film went to Victorian organisation Blairlogie Living and Learning Inc. for The Bookshop, a story exploring love and loss.

Aurora Support Services’ The Long Goodbye was named Best Documentary. The film follows Max, a man with Down syndrome, as he faces the prospect of living independently after his parents move into aged care.

Both winning organisations received $5,000 cash prizes and mentorship opportunities.

The audience also had its say, with Sri Lankan production company Ikonic Media Australia taking home the Most Online Votes Award for Story of Hesara. The documentary follows a young boy with Down syndrome and the support he receives from his family and community.

Among the individual honours, Spanish actress Sonia Cuesta won Best Actor for her performance in APAGADA, a short film about a deaf woman experiencing domestic violence.

Queensland filmmaker Matt Williams received the Best Director Award for Brewing Blind, which follows a legally blind brewer who establishes his own business, Blind Boy Brewing.

New South Wales filmmakers Karin Balmer and Jono Dole were named Best Producers for My Brother Hugo, a documentary about a young boy with autism approaching the end of primary school and the prospect of being separated from his younger brother and closest supporter, Remy.

Andy Meier, also from New South Wales, received the Best Screenwriter Award for An Accidental Artist. The documentary tells the story of William Bil Anderson Jr, who discovered his artistic abilities following a traumatic brain injury sustained in a bicycle accident.

The festival’s Australian and New Zealand schools competition recognised the next generation of filmmakers, with the Kellyville High School Media Team from New South Wales winning Best Short Film for Eggs and Soldiers.

Western Australia’s Iona Presentation College Year 11 ATAR students took home the Best Documentary Award for Ben Rocks.

International honours went to American filmmaker Ajani Murray, whose Will You Carry Me was named Best International Short Film, while Thailand’s Ghost Cat Film won Best International Documentary for Blind.

Founded in Western Sydney by NOVA Employment CEO Martin Wren, the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival has grown from a local initiative into an international event dedicated to changing perceptions of disability through storytelling.

The festival reflects NOVA Employment’s broader mission of helping people with disability find and maintain employment in their chosen fields.

Over the years, Focus on Ability has expanded its international reach, staging screening events in Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Spain and the United States.

Winning films have also been presented at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, providing an international platform for stories that challenge stereotypes and celebrate the contributions of people with disability.

The 2026 ceremony reinforced the festival’s commitment to giving filmmakers a platform to share stories that might otherwise go untold, while recognising the growing role of inclusive storytelling in the international screen industry.

The complete list of winners and films is available at focusonability.com.au.