North Bellarine Film Festival sets the stage for emerging talent

SUBMISSIONS have opened for the eighth iteration of the North Bellarine Film Festival and this year there are three prizes for young Victorian filmmakers up for grabs.

The festival, which will take place on November 15 and 16, is intended to both encourage up-and-coming filmmakers and offer locals a diverse program of short films.

Filmmakers aged 25 or under, who are either current or former Victorian residents, are eligible to submit their work for consideration for the festival’s annual Emerging Filmmaker Award and inaugural Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award.

Both awards recognise filmmakers who demonstrate outstanding talent and a strong desire to succeed at their craft, and winners will receive $500 and a trophy.

Committee vice-president Robert Walton said being a filmmaker was “a bloody tough gig”.

“We’re really trying to find the next generation of filmmakers.

“These young kids study. There’s no real job for them at the end. They’re really independent people trying to make a living.

“So, it’s really fantastic if you can get to a festival and see these young kids actually feel as though they’re important. They’re having their photo taken; they’re being interviewed.

“Even just watching it, it puts tingles up your spine.”

Work submitted for award consideration will be judged by a panel of up to nine judges on a number of criteria.

“We’re looking at the quality of all aspects [of the work], the cinematography, the direction, sound and also the story,” Mr Walton said.

The People’s Choice Award, chosen by audience ballot, will again be awarded this year, with all finalists for the Emerging Filmmaker and Emerging Documentary Filmmaker awards eligible.

Mr Walton said young filmmakers who submit their work to the festival would benefit from feedback on their efforts and networking opportunities with other filmmakers.

“There’s not too many other festivals that are really trying to encourage the really young kids who have just come out of university,” he said.

“For especially the young kids, apart from the fact that they get some recognition for their film…it’s nice for them to see their film presented on the big screen, with a lot of other people watching.

“I think that’s about as good as you can get for a filmmaker.”

Individuals from all over the world are also able to submit their work for consideration for the festival’s short film program, for which approximately 15-20 will be selected.

Submissions for the North Bellarine Film Festival will close August 31.

For more information, or to submit your work for consideration, head to linktr.ee/northbellarinefilmfestival