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

Hosted by Mental Illness Fellowship Australia (MIFA)

Out From The Mist is proudly hosted by Mental Illness Fellowship Australia (MIFA), a national mental health organisation working to create a more inclusive and understanding community since 1986.

The project is brought to life by Ilyse Elphick and Lauren Spriggs, who share a passion for the arts, storytelling, and the power of lived experience. Together, they help bring Out From The Mist to life, creating opportunities for people to share their experiences of mental health conditions through photography, film, and music. They are continually inspired by the courage, creativity, and generosity of entrants, and by the way art can spark connection, challenge stigma, and help people feel seen and understood.
mifa.org.au

Thea Frost – Creative Director

Thea Frost brings a longstanding connection to Out From The Mist, having been involved with the competition in its early years and remaining an enthusiastic supporter of the work ever since. She believes strongly in the power of art to connect, challenge, and transform, and recognises the courage it takes to share personal stories through creative expression.

Drawing on her own experience of mental illness, Thea’s work spans the performing arts, mental health advocacy, and actor wellbeing. With a background in science, education, and the arts, she works as an actor and producer on the Gold Coast.