(Left to right) Screen Illawarra’s Juliet Scrine, Tony Barea, Dr Janys Hayes and Nick Bolton, BirdWatcher writer Vlad Zokitch, and Screen Illawarra’s Ashleigh Murray and Lauren Mercovich at the Screen Illawarra networking event, where the judges for the 2025 Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition were announced. Photos: Matt Houston IronBark Photography.
Heavyweight industry judges and an iconic Wollongong venue — the Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition has reached new heights in its third year.
Wollongong City Council and competition partner Screen Illawarra have confirmed an all-star judging panel, featuring award-winning film and television producer Vincent Sheehan (Fisk, Mullet, Jasper Jones), actor and activist Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black) and one of Australia’s most experienced producers, Ian Collie (Colin from Accounts, The Twelve).
Screen Illawarra chair Nick Bolton said the calibre of judges reflected how far the region’s screen scene had come.
“We’re not an emerging networking group; we have an extremely strong ecosystem here of qualified and talented professionals here,” he said. “They’re all giving of their time and expertise for the competition.”
Open to filmmakers of all ages and experience levels, the Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition offers $5000 in cash and industry prizes.
Like Tropfest, all entries must include a “signature item” — this year’s being birds. Whether literal or metaphorical, entrants are encouraged to let their ideas take wing.
Entries close 30 January 2026, with the best shorts set to light up the big screen at the Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival, a free community event on 7 March 2026, held as part of the Sunset Cinema program.
“Last year we were at Lake Illawarra and attracted about 500 people,” Bolton said. “I think this year, Sunset Cinema at Wollongong Botanic Garden — being such an iconic part of Wollongong summers for a long time now — will attract a lot more general punters.”
Also announced were the recipients of six short film commissions awarded to local creatives selected from almost 40 pitches made to Screen Illawarra.
Elkie Chadwick, Ruth Larner, Jane Fullerton-Smith, Vlad Zokitch, Glenn Hanns and Rose Newland will each receive $2000 and be paired with a professional local production company for mentorship and support.
“We did that for the first time last year and it was highly effective in raising the quality of the films,” Bolton said.
“Those companies provide their expertise, IP, hardware, software and pull all their favours to bring in more talent, and it was a real elevator for everyone involved.”
Some of those films have since made their mark far beyond the Illawarra. Over by Duncan Ragg, Anna Phillips and Isabella Debbage won the 2024 competition before taking out Best Comedy at Flickerfest (one of four Academy and BAFTA-accredited festivals in Australia), among other international awards.
“It was one of many that went on to win acclaim,” Bolton said.
The new commissioned films must meet the 30 January deadline and will premiere at the festival on 7 March, where the 2026 competition winners will also be revealed.
For more information, visit Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition and Festival.
