SCINEMA

SCINEMA is an international science film festival that screens every August as part of National Science Week. The SCINEMA team curate a series of programs – documentaries, dramas, short films, animations, all with great science storytelling – and you can access these films for FREE to play in your classroom or library or community group across National Science Week.

Our 2026 program is now live on the SCINEMA website [www.scinema.net]. You can see the program listed here, including one program of films that are 'all ages' viewing and could safely be shown anywhere; one program of more adult content probably more appropriate for screenings at medical and nursing schools; and a handful of themed programs including Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, Creature Features, Oceans and Rivers, Environment, Language and Psychology, Art and Science, Physics, Technology, Women in STEM, Human Health and Space and the Skies. These themed programs are likely best for a 15+ audience.

You'll notice you need a password to open the film pages - which you can get by REGISTERING TO BE A SCINEMA VENUE (links at the bottom of the page).

How SCINEMA works: Explore the 2026 SCINEMA program here. Register to be a venue – here [Private SCINEMA Screening - National Science Week] for schools or for private home viewing and here [SCINEMA Screening - National Science Week] for more public venues like libraries, cinemas, community groups. We’ll send you the password that unlocks the SCINEMA viewing files. You’ll need your own screen, laptop, or theatre to play them in. You might also like to curate your own activities to add to the screening- perhaps an introduction from a local scientist or science teacher, or a discussion about one of the films.

If you’d like to host a SCINEMA screening that members of the public can join (e.g. at a local library) please register for a public SCINEMA screening.

If you’d prefer to host a SCINEMA screening that’s by invitation-only e.g. for a school or Scout group, please register for a private SCINEMA screening.

Image from the 2026 SCINEMA ‘Best Student Film’ BURNT COUNTRY’