Anglesea Short Film Festival calls action

THE Anglesea Movie Club is preparing to roll out the red carpet for its second annual Anglesea Short Film Festival and is encouraging young creatives across the Surf Coast to get filming.

The competition is open to young people aged 18 and under who have a connection to the Surf Coast, whether it be through family, sport or regular time spent in the region.

Club president Evelyn Wuchatsch said the strong response to the festival’s debut last year had inspired organisers to expand the program and open it to a broader group of young filmmakers.

Eligibility has this year been extended to include the full Surf Coast corridor, spanning from Torquay to Lorne, rather than just residents in Anglesea and its immediate surrounds.

“This time we’ve open it up to the Surf Coast,” Ms Wuchatsch said. “Kids don’t have to permanently reside here – they just have to have a connection.

“We’re trying to encourage as many applicants as possible.”

This year’s creative challenge asks filmmakers to incorporate a key – either physical or symbolic – into a short, three-minute film.

“It could be a line of dialogue or a theme or it can be a physical [object], whatever the kids come up with,” Ms Wuchatsch said.

Films can be made using any device, with no restrictions on genre. Individual or group entries are also welcome, with groups capped at three filmmakers.

To support entrants, organisers have released a detailed information pack outlining the judging criteria and practical tips on creating a short film.

Ms Wuchatsch said last year’s standout entries combined solid filmmaking with strong entertainment value.

“The films that won didn’t just have good filmmaking technique, they were really entertaining films,” she said.

The festival will again offer a significant prize pool, with organisers hoping the incentive will help attract a broad range of applicants.

The winners will be announced at a free screening event on February 15, with a $500 prize up for grabs for entrants aged up to 13 years in the junior category and a $1,500 prize on offer for entrants aged 14 to 18.

Finalists will also receive $100 each.

Ms Wuchatsch encouraged young filmmakers to take the leap.

“Just have a go,” she said. “It’s a bit of fun anyway and a chance to show some creative skills.”

Applications close January 11.

For more information, email [email protected], or to register for the film festival and access an entry packet, head to bit.ly/3MIEqB3