Filmmakers of all faiths and religions are invited to submit entries for a unique Australian religious short film competition.

The inaugural Religious Short Film Prize is being promoted by Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC) in Canberra.

Professor Stephen Pickard (pictured), the Executive Director of the ACCC, said Four Pillars guide the Centre's work and the Prize is offered under the 'Pillar of Creativity through the Arts, Sciences and Culture'.

"This Pillar recognises the importance of creativity and imagination in life and society," Professor Pickard said. "Following previous initiatives in other arts, 2015 is the inaugural National Religious Short Film Prize.

"I support this initiative because film and religion both explore, in different ways, what it means to be a human being in the universe.

"We value links with all who are concerned about the arts and the common good, and I urge people of all faiths and denominations to apply their talents and submit a short film entry to this unique Australian prize."

The Religious Short Film Prize will be managed and determined by the  founding committee and judging panel which includes Reverend Dr David Millikan, a noted broadcaster and producer, the author of several books, the foundation director of the ACCC, and presently a Uniting Church minister at Berry on the NSW south coast.

Dr Millikan (pictured) said the Prize is valued at $5 000, and the committee will accept all forms of film entries (drama, documentaries, animated, etc) by filmmakers from all religions or no religion at all.

"Religion is about a never-ending quest for meaning in our lives, and film is a medium by which we explore and encounter the range of human experience," he said.

"This offers filmmakers a rich palette and a very wide canvas, albeit limited in this instance to eight minutes duration."

Dr Millikan acknowledged that 'religion' is a broad topic that can prompt strong views and emotions, but welcomes well-considered films even if they are critical of religion.

"The principal caveat is that the judging committee will not accept for consideration for the Prize films that the committee judges are egregiously blasphemous and are designed primarily to provoke anger and grossly offend," he said.

Entries close at 5pm Friday 26 February 2016. Films must not exceed eight minutes and the entry fee is $50. More information can be found here.