Australian documentaries “Focus” and “Road Trip” have jointly won the NOVA Employment Choice Award at the 2026 Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, with this year’s winners announced at a ceremony at The Concourse in Chatswood, Sydney, on Sunday.
The annual festival celebrates filmmakers and stories that highlight the experiences, creativity and achievements of people with disability. This year’s competition received 240 submissions from 26 countries, with entries spanning short films and documentaries running under five minutes.
Directed by Zac Stevenson, “Focus” follows Kai, who has autism and dyslexia, as he establishes Kaiko Fidgets, a business creating products for the neurodivergent community. Meanwhile, Alex Sideratos’ “Road Trip” explores the experiences of a young man with autism as he navigates social situations and finds fulfilment in a job that allows him to put his skills and expertise to use.
Among the other major winners was Blairlogie Living and Learning Inc.’s “The Bookshop,” a short film exploring love and loss, which received the Judges Choice Award for Best Short Film. Aurora Support Services, meanwhile, claimed the Judges Choice Award for Best Documentary with “The Long Goodbye,” which follows Max, a man with Down syndrome, as he adjusts to independent living while his parents move into aged care. Both organisations received $5,000 prizes alongside mentorship opportunities.
The award for Most Online Votes, also carrying a $5,000 prize, went to “Story of Hesara,” a documentary from Sri Lankan Ikonic Media Australia. The film centres on Hesara, a young boy with Down syndrome, and the support he receives from his family and wider community.
In the individual categories, Spanish actress Sonia Cuesta was named Best Actor for her performance in “APAGADA,” which follows a deaf woman experiencing domestic violence. Queensland filmmaker Matt Williams received Best Director for “Brewing Blind,” a documentary about a legally blind brewer who establishes his own business, Blind Boy Brewing. NSW filmmakers Karin Balmer and Jono Dole won Best Producer for “My Brother Hugo,” which follows a young boy with autism preparing to leave primary school and face separation from his younger brother, Remy. Meanwhile, NSW filmmaker Andy Meier took home Best Screenwriter for “An Accidental Artist,” documenting the story of William Bil Anderson Jr, who turned to art after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in a cycling accident.
The festival also recognised emerging filmmakers through its Australian and New Zealand school categories. Kellyville High School Media Team in NSW won Best Short Film for “Eggs and Soldiers,” while Western Australia’s Iona Presentation College Year 11 ATAR Students received Best Documentary for “Ben Rocks.”
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International honours went to American filmmaker Ajani Murray, whose “Will You Carry Me” won Best International Short Film, and Thailand’s “Ghost Cat Film,” which received Best International Documentary for Blind.
The awards ceremony featured appearances from Australian entertainment figures including Focus on Ability ambassador Paula Duncan, Lynne McGranger, Tony Bonner, John Jarratt, James Stewart, Ada Nicodemo, Nick Hardcastle, Christie Dawes and Gerard O’Dwyer.
Founded in Western Sydney by NOVA Employment CEO Martin Wren, the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival was established to challenge perceptions of disability and provide a platform for filmmakers to share stories that might otherwise go untold. The festival has since expanded internationally, with screenings held in countries including Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, the United States, Spain and Kenya. Winning films are also presented annually at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.