Perfectly timed to chime with Youth Week, the Screenwave International Film Festival's youth development program, Nextwave, is searching for the next wave of young regional filmmakers.
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Previously called REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival, Nextwave is host to Australia's largest regional youth short film competition for young creatives living outside a metro area.
Young filmmakers across regional Australia aged between 10 and 25 years old can create short films and submit to the competition to win from a pool of over $40,000 worth of prizes.
Keen non-fiction creatives can also compete for the new documentary category with real stories from their local communities.
The theme for 2019 is "DISCOVERY' and the signature item to include is "GAME".
Films must also be under six minutes duration, including titles and credits and be PG or under. Submissions close September 23 at 11:59pm.
The creativity and originality in the films these young people produce is second-to-none
- Dave Horsley, SWIFF director
The top short film finalists will be selected to screen at the Nextwave Youth Film Awards at the Screenwave International Film Festival (SWIFF) in Coffs Harbour in January 2020.
This year's program will also see over 60 in-school filmmaking and mental health workshops come to schools throughout Regional NSW between May and August at high schools, universities, TAFEs, and youth centres, for students interested in learning what it's all about behind the camera lens.
In 2018, a record 72 short films were created for the competition, with 20 finalists and winners reaching a wider audience at venues across regional Australia, as part of Youth Week 2019 celebrations (Apr 10-18 - these are NSW dates only).
"The creativity and originality in the films these young people produce is second-to-none. Many are first-timers or have a couple of short films under their belts. Over the years it has been a joy watching individual young filmmakers blossom and find their own creative voice," said SWIFF Festival Director Dave Horsley.
The 2019 Nextwave short film competition is now open, with entry information as well as workshops and youth weeks screenings at www.nextwavefilmfest.com.au.
Nextwave is co-presented by the Screenwave International Film Festival (SWIFF) and Headspace Coffs Harbour, proudly supported by Southern Cross University, Create NSW, C.ex Group, Arts Mid North Coast, local Councils and the Regional Arts Fund.
For more media information contact Dave Horsley at david.horsley@screenwave.com.au.
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