Filmmakers Jane Fullerton Smith, Alastair Yorke and Rose Newland with Screen Illawarra’s Nick Bolton at the Wollongong Botanic Garden’s Sunset Cinema. Photo: Billie Acosta.
Take your family for a night under the stars accompanied by some of Wollongong’s best creative offerings – all for free.
The Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival will take over the Sunset Cinema on Saturday 7 March.
The free festival will screen the best emerging and professional entries from the Creative Wollongong short film competition.
The competition, presented by Wollongong City Council and Screen Illawarra, provides opportunities for local actors and filmmakers to hone and showcase their craft.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown promised a fabulous evening of entertainment under the open air.
“Cannes and Sundance are great, but I’d much rather be perched right here to celebrate homegrown talent under the beautiful Djeera,” she said.
“Several films made for our competition last year went on to earn international acclaim. I can’t wait to see what our talented local storytellers have hatched this time.”
All entries were required to hero the same ‘signature item’.
In past years, this was a banana, a bike helmet and water. This year it’s birds – and not only the feathered variety.
The line-up features films that hero the birds of Lake Illawarra, a documentary on the Illawarra Hawks, one set in the grassy woodlands, and four which came from a partnership with Five Islands Secondary College.
“They’re calling it the Met Galah,” councillor Brown said.
Competition winners for the three categories will be announced prior to the screening. Together they’ll share in $5000 worth of prizes and industry training.
Industry judges are actor Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black), producers Vincent Sheehan (Fisk, Mullet, Jasper Jones) and Ian Collie (Colin from Accounts, The Twelve), and emerging cinematographer Skye Netting.
The best competition entries will be screened alongside commissioned films created with Screen Illawarra and supported by Moonlander Media, Relativity Films, Sketchbook TV, Eye Candy Productions, Who & Why Media and Ten Alphas.
Cr Brown urged residents to book their free tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Spots are limited for safety and licensing. The event is rated ‘M’ as the films have not yet been officially rated; there may be some mature language and themes.
Children under 15 are welcome to attend with the supervision of their parents or carers.
Bring your own chair or picnic blanket to get comfy, and pack a picnic or indulge at the onsite food vendors and snack bar.
Pets must be left at home.
Gates open at 7 pm for live music and red carpet photos.
