Revelation Perth International Film Festival

What Revelation Perth International Film Festival does

Revelation Perth International Film Festival is a registered charity and nonprofit organisation founded in 1997 in Perth, Western Australia. It operates Western Australia's only international film festival, producing an annual 12-day programme of 170 international films across features, documentaries, shorts, experimental works, and animations at multiple Perth venues, principally Luna Cinemas (Leederville), The Backlot Perth, WA State Library, SAE Perth, and Tribe Perth. The festival is AACTA-qualifying and draws approximately 11,000 in-person attendances and 21,000 online reach annually, with screening tickets priced at $23 adult and $16.50 concession. Beyond the annual festival, Revelation runs several year-round programmes: the WA Screen Culture Awards (WASCA) across 23 categories, the Life in Pictures community filmmaking competition challenging ageism, the City of Vincent Film Project commissioning early-career documentarians, and Industrial Revelations, a professional development programme for the screen sector. Since 2020 the organisation has invested more than $350,000 in commissioning and producing over 25 short documentaries and VR works.

The organisation is led by founder and Festival Director Richard Sowada (since 1997) with a small core team of approximately 10 staff plus associates, governed by a five-person board. Revenue is diversified across four streams: ticket sales (per-screening and passes including Gold Pass at $250, 6-Film Mini Pass at $90, Connect 4 at $65), annual memberships in Full/Standard/Student tiers, tax-deductible donations, and a tiered sponsorship programme spanning Award Presenter ($2,500) to Presenting Partner ($20,000+) with 25+ named institutional partners including Screenwest, City of Vincent, WA Department of Communities, Luna Cinemas, Curtin University, and ECU. The festival maintains a documented ethical partnership policy excluding fossil fuel, weapons, and social-inequity-linked funders. Distribution combines on-site ticket sales through venue box offices and external ticketing via movietkts.com.au, plus online reach across the website, social media, email newsletter, and media partners including Cinema Australia, RTRFM, Out in Perth, Variety, and XPRESS Mag. Technology infrastructure is limited to Storyblok CMS for web content management with no proprietary platform or API documented.

Name

Revelation Perth International Film Festival

Legal name

Revelation Film Festival

Website

https://revelationfilmfest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Revelation Perth International Film Festival is a registered charity and Western Australia's only international film festival, founded in 1997. It runs a 12-day annual programme of 170 international films and year-round screen culture initiatives including awards, community filmmaking, and local production commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival Events & Screen Culture Programs

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts & Culture Documentaries (MPADADAI)

Keywords

• International film festival
• Independent cinema screenings
• Screen culture awards
• Community filmmaking programs
• Film industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

North Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual tickets sold at $23 adult, $16.50 student/senior/pension/child. Revenue generated from screening admissions across multiple venues including Luna Cinemas, The Backlot Perth, WA State Library, SAE Perth, and Tribe Perth Kings Park.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Full, Standard, and Student memberships offering discounts, priority booking, and year-round benefits. Three tiers available.
3. Festival Passes: Gold Pass ($250 for all films except special events), 6-Film Mini Pass ($90), Connect 4 four-film pass ($65). Available online and at venue box offices.
4. Donations and Sponsorship: Registered charity with tax-deductible donations. Sponsorship tiers from Award Presenter ($2,500) through to Presenting Partner ($20,000+). Access to 11,000+ in-person attendances and 21,000+ online reach for partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Revelation Perth International Film Festival operates an annual 12-day international film festival screening 170 films in Perth, Western Australia, complemented by year-round programs including the WA Screen Culture Awards (WASCA), Life in Pictures community filmmaking competition, City of Vincent Film Project, and Industrial Revelations professional development. The festival sells individual tickets, festival passes, and annual memberships, and operates as a DGR-endorsed registered charity accepting tax-deductible donations and tiered corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Revelation Perth International Film Festival operates as a single unified film festival product, supplemented by multiple complementary programs. The core offering is the annual 12-day international film festival showcasing 170 films. Supporting programs include the WA Screen Culture Awards (annual awards ceremony), Life in Pictures (community filmmaking competition), City of Vincent Film Project (documentary commissioning initiative), and Industrial Revelations (professional development). Additional revenue streams include membership subscriptions and a tax-deductible donation program. The organization is a DGR-endorsed charity and AACTA-qualifying festival.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WA Screen Culture Awards (WASCA): Annual awards ceremony celebrating innovation and achievement in the Western Australian screen sector across all moving image forms including narrative, documentary, short, student, games, television, and moving image art.
• Life in Pictures
• Industrial Revelations
• City of Vincent Film Project

Products and services

• Revelation Perth International Film Festival Western Australia's largest international film festival, a 12-day celebration of cinema showcasing 170 international films including feature films, documentaries, shorts, experimental works, and animations, for film lovers, screen professionals, and culturally curious audiences.
• WA Screen Culture Awards (WASCA) Annual awards ceremony celebrating innovation and achievement in Western Australia's screen sector across 23 award categories including narrative features, documentaries, shorts, animation, television, games, and moving image art, with two special awards: Outstanding Contribution to the Industry and Independent Spirit Award.
• Life in Pictures

Quantifiable outcome

• 170+ international films screened annually across 12 days
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered principal partner, widescreen silver, supporting partner, industry partner, media partner, special award partner and accommodation food & beverage partner.

• Screenwestprincipal partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerScreenwest is Western Australia's screen development agency and a principal partner of Revelation. As the government body supporting screen production in WA, Screenwest provides strategic alignment and funding support for the festival's role in showcasing WA screen talent.
• City of Vincentprincipal partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Vincent is a principal partner and collaborates on the annual City of Vincent Film Project, commissioning short documentaries from early-career filmmakers showcasing local stories and community characters.
• Luna Cinemasprincipal partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuna Cinemas operates the main festival venue (Luna Leederville) and is a venue partner and principal partner, providing cinema infrastructure and ticketing integration.
• Department of Communities (WA Government)principal partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWA Department of Communities is a principal partner and supports the Life in Pictures community filmmaking initiative and general festival operations as a registered charity.
• The Solid Statewidescreen silverGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralia's most experienced film marketing agency (founded 2007) providing film marketing expertise and promotional support to the festival.
• Curtin Universitywidescreen silverGTM or Marketing PartnerCurtin University is a Widescreen Silver partner, providing academic and industry connections through Curtin Law School's involvement in presenting select films (e.g., Silenced documentary Q&A).
• Perth Film Studioswidescreen silverGTM or Marketing PartnerPerth Film Studios is a Widescreen Silver partner and presents the Innovation Award for Narrative Feature Film with budget over $1m at WASCA.
• Morley Mitsubishiwidescreen silverGTM or Marketing PartnerWidescreen Silver sponsor providing vehicle sponsorship and financial support.
• PAV (Post Audio Visual)widescreen silverGTM or Marketing PartnerPAV is a Widescreen Silver partner and presents the Innovation Award for Alternative Content (including VR, AR, installation art) at WASCA.
• The Backlot Perthwidescreen silverStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Backlot Perth (21 Simpson St, West Perth) is a Widescreen Silver partner and festival venue, providing production and screening facilities.
• The Law Society of Western Australiasupporting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting partner for the Silenced documentary screening, staging a 20-minute Q&A after the film about defamation laws and gendered violence.
• Edith Cowan University (ECU)industry partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerECU presents the Innovation Award for Short Film at WASCA. The university also supports the festival's educational mission.
• SAE University Collegeindustry partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAE Perth (venue partner and industry program location) presents the Student Film Innovation Award at WASCA.
• Professional Film Crew of WAindustry partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Film Crew of WA is an industry partner supporting the WA screen sector community and co-presenting at WASCA.
• Cinema Australiamedia partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing editorial coverage and audience reach for the festival.
• RTRFMmedia partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPerth community radio station and media partner providing broadcast and digital coverage.
• Out in Perthmedia partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ media outlet in Perth providing targeted media coverage for the festival.
• Varietymedia partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational entertainment media brand operating as a media partner for Revelation.
• State Library of Western Australiasupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Library of WA is a supporting partner providing venue access and community programming support.
• Umbrella Entertainmentspecial award partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerUmbrella Entertainment presents the Independent Spirit Award at WASCA. The company's General Manager Ari Harrison is a festival guest.
• ITV Studios and Lingo Picturesspecial award partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerITV Studios and Lingo Pictures jointly present the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award at WASCA.
• Sandboxindustry partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSandbox presents the Achievement in Editing award at WASCA.
• Soundbyteindustry partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSoundbyte presents the Achievement in Original Music award at WASCA.
• Lucky Bay Brewingaccommodation food & beverage partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal craft brewery providing food and beverage partnership for festival events.
• Tribe Hotelsaccommodation food & beverage partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribe Hotel Perth provides venue for Industrial Revelations industry program and accommodation partnership.
• Curtin University (as WASCA Award Partner)widescreen silverGTM or Marketing PartnerCurtin University Law School presents select film screenings with Q&A sessions; University is Widescreen Silver sponsor.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St Kilda Film Festival: Australia's leading short film festival, previously directed by Revelation's founder Richard Sowada; directly comparable as an Australian curated short and independent film showcase with industry programming.
• Brisbane International Film Festival: An Australian international film festival operating in a single state capital with similar curated independent cinema programming, industry awards, and event-driven festival model.
• CinefestOZ: A regional Australian international film festival focused on independent French and Australian cinema; directly comparable as a state-level curated festival with industry programs and sponsor-driven funding model.
• Adelaide Film Festival: An Australian state-based international film festival with comparable curatorial focus on adventurous independent cinema, industry programs, and city-anchored venue partnerships.
• Flickerfest: Australia's premier international short film festival with AACTA-qualifying status, comparable in its curated independent/short film programming and Australian festival circuit positioning.
• Sydney Film Festival: Australia's flagship international film festival, directly comparable to Revelation as a curated international cinema showcase with industry programs, awards, and similar audience/sponsor composition in the Australian film festival landscape.
• Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF): One of the oldest and largest international film festivals in the Southern Hemisphere, with comparable programming of adventurous independent cinema, industry programs, and similar AACTA-qualifying operations in Australia.

Emerging players

• Heartland Film Festival: A US-based independent film festival with similar curated programming of adventurous international cinema, comparable in scale and independent cinema positioning, though serving a different geographic market.
• Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival: The largest documentary festival in North America, partially comparable as a documentary-focused festival; intersects with Revelation's commissioning of documentary works and screening of nonfiction programming.

Broad incumbents

• Sundance Film Festival: The global benchmark for independent film festivals; comparable as a curated international independent cinema showcase with industry programming, though operating at vastly larger scale with broader geographic and industry reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/revfilmfest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Revelation Perth International Film Festival