REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival has stepped up a gear this year, giving even more young filmmakers in regional NSW an opportunity to get their stories on the big screen.
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The festival, produced by Screenwave and Headspace Coffs Harbour along with festival partners, enters its third year in 2017, reaching out to thousands of young people aged 12 to 25 with its filmmaking workshop program, screenings, and short film competition and awards.
“REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival’s aim is to find and develop the next generation of filmmakers from regional NSW,” festival director Dave Horsley said. “We’re excited this year to open up submissions for the first time to all young people around regional NSW.”
The workshops take place May to July at high schools, universities, TAFEs, and youth centres in Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen Shire, Nambucca Shire, Kempsey Shire, Armidale, Uralla, and Tamworth. Within these participating eight regions, for the first time there will also be an inter-‐school competition.
School prize packs, valued at more than $2,000, include:
- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera
- DaVinci Resolve 14 Edit software
- Samyang 20mm lens
- Rode VideoMic
Individual young entrants from around regional NSW also have an opportunity to win:
- Australian Film Television and Radio School film-‐making courses
- Filmmaking equipment prize packs totalling more than $25,000
- Their short film to be screened at the Screenwave International Film Festival
- Screenwave International Film Festival Take 5 Film Passes
- Film Ink DVD and Blu Ray movie packs
As well as opening pathways for budding film-‐makers, REC Ya Shorts creates a space to destigmatise the wider conversation about youth mental health – offering themes which past entrants have explored via short films full of wit, melodrama, twists, reflection, suspense, and even song and rap.
This year’s theme is “connection” and the signature item is “phone”, to be incorporated into all films submitted. All films must also be under six minutes’ duration, including titles and credits.
“Film is such a powerful medium and a fantastic way for young people from the regions to tell their stories,” Gary Maher, community engagement officer at Headspace Coffs Harbour, said.
“REC Ya Shorts helps provide a platform for young voices. The quality of films last year was extraordinary and covered some tough topics like bullying, domestic violence and homelessness.”
Submissions are now open until August 21 and will be followed by a regional screening tour of the winning films in September.
For details on how to enter, sign up for a workshop or festival information visit www.recyashorts.com.au