Now in its fourth year, the REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival is now rolling out around Regional NSW for 2018, finding the next wave of young regional filmmakers from around the state. This year’s program will see over 70 in-school filmmaking and mental health workshops come to schools throughout Northern NSW, including Bellingen, Dorrigo, and Nambucca, for students interested in learning what’s it all about behind the camera lens.
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The festival’s 2018 short film competition, open to all young people aged 12 to 25 around Regional Australia, closes for submissions on September 24 at 11:59pm. This year’s theme, for all films to include, is “Escape” and the signature item is a “Sign”. Films must also be under six minutes’ duration, including titles and credits. There are thousands of dollars in prizes up for grabs, with more information coming soon at www.recyashorts.com.au
A judging panel including the filmmakers behind new award-winning indie comedy That’s Not Me, Alice Foulcher and Greg Erdstein, will select the short film finalists to screen at the new Nextwave Youth Film Awards at the Screenwave International Film Festival (SWIFF) in Coffs Harbour next January.
Winning films from the REC Ya Shorts’ 2018 competition will be offered to regional theatres and community organisations around Regional Australia to screen next April for 2019’s National Youth Week celebrations.
REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival is co-presented by SWIFF and Headspace Coffs Harbour and supported by Southern Cross University, Screen NSW, C.ex Group, Bellingen Shire Council and the Regional Arts Fund, reaching thousands of young people around Regional NSW.
“REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival’s aim is to find and develop the next wave of filmmakers from regional Australia,” said festival director Dave Horsley. “We’re excited this year to extend our footprint across regional NSW to reach even more young creatives”.
The workshops take place May through to August at high schools, universities, TAFEs, and youth centres in Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen Shire, Nambucca Shire, Kempsey Shire, Armidale, Uralla, Mid-Coast, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, and Tweed Shire.
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 through comedies, music videos, skate and surf vids, dramas, art films, and documentaries. Over 100 original short films have been produced for the festival over the last three years, along with awarding thousands of dollars in prizes.
Gary Maher, community engagement officer of Headspace Coffs Harbour, said: “Film is such a powerful medium and a fantastic way for young people from the regions to tell their stories. 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, invasive thoughts, and homelessness.”
The 2018 festival trailer is available here.
