The first Cannes Film Festival was held in 1946. The first Australian feature film selected for screening was Jedda in 1955, and for 28 of the past 30 years we have had at least one film at the festival. Ten films were selected in 1986. Three Australians have served as Jury Members: Judy Davis in 1993; George Miller in 1988 and 1999; and Toni Collette in 2007.

Official Selection embraces Competition, Special Screenings (Hors Concours or 'out of competition' screenings), the Short Film Competition, Un Certain Regard and Cinéfondation. Awards are given in each category, and the Camera d'Or Award, introduced in 1978, is given for best first feature film (16 mm or 35 mm over 60 minutes in length) shown in any category.

As well as Official Selection there are two parallel events run by independent organisations: Directors' Fortnight (La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs), established in 1969, which is organised under the auspices of the French Society of Cinema Directors; and Critics' Week (La Semaine Internationale de la Critique), established in 1962, which presents seven or eight films that are the first or second work of new directors; the selection committee comprises French and foreign critics nominated by the French Critics' Association. Another independent event, Cannes Junior, presents films for a young audience.

Awards in addition to those given by the Cannes Film Festival itself include: Prix de la Jeunesse (organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports); Prix du Publique (for most popular film); Petit Rail d'Or and Grand Rail d'Or (Golden Railtrack prizes given by French railworkers attending Critics' Week, introduced in 1994); Prix Education Nationale (to a film from the Official Selection or parallel event voted for by secondary school students and teachers attending the Cinécole weekend, organised by the City of Cannes Cinema Department and the Education Office of Nice); and Grand Prix Cannes Junior.

The pages in this section list the Australian films which have screened in each category. Awards won are summarised under 'Award-winners' , and indicated by a star in each screening category. The director's name is included in brackets.