Chatswood will host the Red Carpet Awards at The Concourse on Sunday 18 October. The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival finale is free to attend, although registration is required. It runs from 1pm to 5pm, and it brings the year’s winning films to a local stage.
Winning films, big screen, live applause
This is the sort of afternoon that gives short films a proper finish. The winning films will screen on the big screen, and the filmmakers will collect their awards in person. That means the room will not just watch the films. It will share the moment with the people who made them.
The festival says filmmakers, families, judges, sponsors and crews will all come together. Many of the people accepting awards will be doing so in front of a live audience for the first time. That gives the Red Carpet Awards a sense of ceremony that feels more than symbolic.
Guests will walk the red carpet on arrival, and photographs will be taken then and shared afterwards. Each winning filmmaker will be called up by name. It is a simple format, but it gives the event a clear rhythm. It also makes the afternoon feel personal, not just procedural.
Willoughby welcomes the event to Chatswood
Willoughby City Council has welcomed the festival finale to Chatswood. Mayor Tanya Taylor said the festival celebrates talent, creativity and storytelling. She also said it challenges the way people think about disability and ability.
That message sits at the heart of Focus on Ability. The festival celebrates the abilities of people living with disability, and it does so through film. In that way, the Red Carpet Awards are not only about prizes. They are also about recognition and representation.
The event is open to more than just filmmakers. You do not need to have entered a film to attend. You might have watched the films, voted, taught a class that entered, or simply want to see the winning work on the big screen.
Practical notes for Chatswood guests
The venue is The Concourse, 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW. It is accessible, and parking is under the building with entry off Albert Avenue. Refreshments are included, and there is nothing to pay on the day.
Organisers ask guests to register so they can plan seating and catering. They also ask people to note any access or dietary requirements when they register. In addition, red-carpet photographs may be published later. Guests can say on the day if they would rather not appear in them.
There is a certain polish to the Red Carpet Awards, but there is substance too. The event gives winning filmmakers a public moment and gives Chatswood a seat at the table. That combination is rare, and it is worth noting.
Published 7-October-2026
