A Lived Experience.

Mental illness takes many forms — some short-term, others long-lasting — and each one represents a deeply personal lived experience. Whether through images, short films, or music, people express a wide range of emotions and responses that reflect the diversity of their journeys. Every story is unique, and so is the path each person takes. 

Recovery & Hope.

Many people recover fully or partially from a mental health condition and go on to live fulfilling and meaningful lives. Images, short movies or music celebrating recovery, wellness and contributing back into the community can provide hope for those still finding their way.

Judging

Each entry is judged on the following criteria:

• Storytelling
• Creativity and originality
• Technical merit

Photography

Entrants can submit a single photo or a photo essay of three to four images.  If entering an essay, a theme needs to be clear and cohesion between the images. The essay will be judged as a collective, not individual images.
Images should be no smaller than 1MB and no larger than 5MB. Images should be JPEG files. All images must be saved in the sRGB colour model.

Short Movie

Short movies are a minimum of one minute and a maximum of two minutes long. Post-production, including a combination of several images and sounds, image manipulation, or sound manipulations using editing software is permitted. Links to You Tube & Vimeo only.

Music

Audio can be no longer than four minutes. Instrumental & vocal submissions. No cover versions will be accepted. An indication of professional or solo production needs to be provided. MP3 files accepted.

Entry Fee

Single entry is $22 AUD
Multiple image entry $44 AUD

At Out From The Mist, we strive to make our competition accessible to everyone. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please reach out to us at mifa@outfromthemist.com to receive a 60% discount code.

Generative AI Policy

Please refer to Out From The Mist Generative AI Policy

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Inc (MIFA) works in partnership with its member organisations to understand the needs and issues for people affected by severe mental illness. This collaboration strengthens our advocacy and the work that we do. We aim to succeed together to cause positive change and enhance the quality of life for everyone affected by severe mental illness in Australia.

MIFA’s core strength is in amplifying the voice of people affected by mental illness, their families, and friends.

We advocate for positive changes in all areas of social and public policy that impact on the quality of life of people affected, as well as families and friends.

MIFA has been a part of Out From The Mist since its inception and has enjoyed seeing the growth and development of artists that have entered each year. 

The expansion of the competition each year shows the need for a competition like this as it provides an opportunity for stories to be heard from all over the world.
mifa.org.au

Out From The Mist’s creative director is Michael Lockwood. Michael has worked as a senior executive within the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, where among other duties, he had responsibility for the Council’s diverse engagement with the arts community.

Michael has a lived experience of mental illness and has a Masters of Creative Industries with Distinction from Queensland University of Technology.

Michael lives in the central south-western Queensland town of Charleville, balancing his work on Out From The Mist while enjoying the ambiance of his remote ‘outback’ home.