Lights, camera, mango: Inaugural Anglesea film festival launched

THE Anglesea Movie Club is calling on young creatives and budding filmmakers to take part in its inaugural short film festival, with applications set to close in just over two weeks.

Open to young people aged 18 and under, the Anglesea Short Film Festival is aimed at engaging and supporting the talented youngsters who lives in Anglesea and its surrounds, including Aireys Inlet, Bellbrae, Fairhaven and Moggs Creek.

A social club at heart, the Anglesea Movie Club is auspiced by the Anglesea Community House and was established in November 2021 to provide local residents with a cinema experience close to home.

A small membership fee allows the club to raise the funds required to continue hosting monthly movie nights at the Anglesea Memorial Hall, but a significant growth in the club’s membership has contributed to a surprise budget surplus that the club is eager to put back into the community.

“We donated a bit to charity last year, we donate to Food Link each year, but we also thought ‘Let’s try and do something to engage some young people,” Anglesea Movie Club president Evelyn Wuchatsch said.

Inspired by similar film festivals operating across the country, including Geelong Waterfront Film’s 48 Hour Film Frenzy competition, the Anglesea Short Film Festival was born.

Film submissions are to be no longer than three minutes in length, and they must include a reference to mango, whether that be as part of the film’s plot, a mention in the dialogue or simply just a physical appearance in a scene.

No limitations have been placed on genre, number of actors able to be included or the device used to capture and edit the film.

Applications are due January 26.

Ms Wuchatsch encouraged those interested in participating to “just have a go”.

“It’s just an interesting way of showing some creative skills,” she said.

“They might go on to have a career in the industry if they’re interested, but if not, it’s just a bit of fun anyway and a chance to win some money.”

The winners will be announced at a free screening event on February 16, 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.

A filmmaking and video editing course, to be held in March by an experience videographer, will also be awarded to the winners in each category.

A total of 12 finalists will be selected for the screening event and each will receive $100 in celebration of their efforts, while the filmmaking course will be made available to other local children interested in increasing their skills for $50.

Ms Wuchatsch said the movie club was eager to see the film festival become an annual event, with the possibility of adult entry categories being introduced in the future.

For more information, email [email protected] or head to the Anglesea Community House Facebook page.

To register your interest for the film festival and access an entry packet, head to forms.office.com/r/qXatFJZAiD