Jane Fullerton-Smith wrote, produced and starred in her directorial debut, Bin Day. Photos: Bin Day.
From heated neighbourly spats to poignant insights into Macedonian-Australian heritage, the colourful tapestry of the Illawarra’s soul was laid bare at the Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition and Festival screening and awards.
Following a record-breaking 35 entries submitted across three categories, three winners emerged from the screening of 16 standout finalist entries, to a capacity audience of over 900 attendees.
Created by Five Islands Secondary College, supported by Wollongong Youth Services, The Day won the Aged 12-18 category. It followed a student who scheduled a day to be brave about who they really are — scary as it may be.
Nicole Stojanovska’s The Things We Bury took the trophy in the Open Competition. Her poignant Macedonian-Australian short film was about resilience, heritage and the unspoken truths binding a granddaughter and her grandmother.
Jane Fullerton-Smith claimed the Commissioned Films category for her relatable comedy Bin Day, her directorial debut exploring an age-old bin day etiquette debate.
Bin Day was inspired by real events in Fullerton-Smith’s life.
“I had a neighbour who would take any rubbish someone else had put in her bin on bin day and leave it on the ground,” she laughed.
“Bin Day makes light of the types of neighbourhood disputes we all seem to experience at some point … It’s very silly, and we had so much fun making it.”
Fullerton-Smith, who also wrote, produced and acted in the short, said she’d had the concept tucked away for years.
“The commissioned category gave me the opportunity to actually make it; otherwise, it could’ve sat there unmade for who knows how much longer,” she said.
She hoped it would be a platform to launch a long-delayed career, and has entered Bin Day in about 20 film festivals in Australia and overseas.
“I had to look at where our Aussie sense of humour might work. So, Ireland, the UK, some parts of Europe and some parts of the States,” she said.
“I think it has legs, I think people will find it fun and I would love for it to do well.”
Presented by the City of Wollongong in partnership with Screen Illawarra, the festival supports emerging and established filmmakers by providing opportunities to develop their skills, collaborate with industry professionals and share their stories with wider audiences.
Films had to be new, original, filmed in the local area and incorporate this year’s signature, birds, chosen to reflect the City of Wollongong’s commitment to sustainability and climate resilience.
The competition was judged by an acclaimed panel of Australian screen industry representatives, including producer Vincent Sheehan (Fisk, Mullet, Jasper Jones), actor Yael Stone (Orange Is the New Black) and producer Ian Collie (Colin from Accounts, The Twelve). The youth category was judged by cinematographer and recent AFTRS graduate Skye Netting (Ace of Spades).
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Tania Brown said the event promoted the potential of the region’s screen industry.
“This competition is a beautiful example of what happens when creative talent meets professional opportunity,” she said. “These filmmakers are telling stories that resonate far beyond our region and are helping cement the Illawarra as a place where artistic innovation is not only encouraged, but is celebrated.”
Competition winners shared in more than $5000 in cash and prizes.
The 2026 Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition winners were:
- Category – Commissioned Films
- Winner – Bin Day by Jane Fullerton-Smith and India Goss Maher with Moonlander Media:
- Second Place – MiMic by Glenn Hanns with Sketchbook TV
- Best Performance – Amelia Conway (Faye) and Jennifer Gray (MiMic).
- Category – Open
- Winner – The Things We Bury by Nicole Stojanovska and Nuno Dias
- Second Place – Bogan Bird by Holly Trenaman & Tyrone McCrystal
- Best Performance – Adriana Mazevski (The Things We Bury) and Jack Tickner (River of Destiny).
- Category – Ages 12 – 18 years
- Winner – The Day by Five Islands Secondary College supported by Wollongong Youth Services
- Second Place – Queer Bingo supported by Wollongong Youth Services
- Best Performance – Kayden Jackson (Lazlo) and Sabina Bassi (The Day).
- Additional Prizes
- Emerging Actor Award: Ricky Gamble, Dark Sails on the Horizon
- Screen Illawarra annual memberships: Aristos Markou (The Black and Blue), Brian Yap (4 the Birds, Sound of Summer), David Willison and Joke Amosun (Processing) and Antra Johri and Alana Holley (Serendipity).
For more information, visit the City of Wollongong.
