Empowering Voices, Celebrating Stories
Empowering Voices, Celebrating Stories
Empowering Voices, Celebrating Stories

Founded by filmmaker Renae Hardie Braovich, Rock The Boat Film Festival was created with the vision of providing a platform for underrepresented communities to share their stories. The festival’s mission is to ensure that all voices — regardless of age, ability, experience, or equipment — have the chance to be heard, seen, and celebrated on the big screen.

Our festival offers equal opportunities for everyday storytellers to showcase their narratives in cinema, demonstrating that authentic, well-crafted stories can resonate as powerfully as those produced with big budgets. Through this platform, we prove that everyone has a story worth sharing, and every voice has the potential to inspire.

No Cost, No Limits
No Cost, No Limits
No cost, No Limits

At Rock The Boat Film Festival, we’re focusing on accessibility and inclusivity. We don’t require high-budget productions or flashy special effects — what matters most is the authenticity and impact of the story. Submissions are free, and participants can submit multiple entries. The only requirement is knowing how to upload your film to our FilmFreeway Submissions Page, where help is available for anyone who needs assistance with the submission process.

Bringing Communities Together
Bringing Communities Together
Bringing Communities Together

To be eligible for the 2025 festival, films must feature a central theme filmed within one of our designated regions. This helps foster a deeper connection to the local communities and strengthens the cultural identity of the area. Rock The Boat Film Festival acts as a bridge, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. It’s a celebration of diversity, creating a space for stories that have been overlooked and giving them the chance to be heard.

A Focus on Accessibility & Community

Whether you’re using a Super 8 film camera, analog, or digital equipment — what counts is the story you’re telling. Our festival is committed to ensuring everyone can participate, regardless of their resources. With free entry and guidance on how to upload your project to FilmFreeway, via the “How-to-upload-to-Film-Freeway” page of this website, we make it easy for all to share their creative work.

 

In exploring the designated regions for this year’s festival, filmmakers may uncover new insights and deepen their understanding of local cultures and communities. The films will not only tell these stories but contribute to an archive of local history, shaping the future identity of these areas.

Join us in Rocking the Boat, and be part of a movement that amplifies the voices of everyday storytellers — because everyone’s story matters.

Rock The Boat Film Festival Logo

We acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which our office stands. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and community. We pay our respects to their cultures, and to Elders past, present, and emerging. We extend this respect to all Indigenous language groups.