Move over Netflix, budding Illawarra filmmakers and storytellers will put the stream back in streaming on Saturday 7 September with the inaugural Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival.

Starting at 5pm at Kanahooka’s Lakeside Reserve, the free festival will screen the best water-themed entries from the associated short film competition.

The competition—hosted by Wollongong City Council in partnership with Screen Illawarra and Shellharbour City Council— provides opportunities for amateur filmmakers to hone and showcase their craft while the festival is a new addition to turn the spotlight on one of our most iconic natural assets, Lake Illawarra.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM encouraged residents from all sides of the lake to come along and enjoy a fabulous evening under the stars.

“Everyone loves an outdoor movie! Rug up and bring your chair or picnic blanket. You can pack a picnic, come early for a sausage sizzle or visit the shops opposite for fish and chips, hot drinks, or sweet treats,” he said.

“Cannes and Sundance are great, but I’d much rather be perched right here to see local talent on the picturesque shores of Lake Illawarra.”

Mirroring a Tropfest tradition, all entries we required to hero the same ‘signature item’. In past years, this was a banana and a bike helmet. This year the hero item was water.

“Filmmakers could treat water as a theme, object, character, or setting like Lake Illawarra or the beaches, pools, and creeks in the area,” explained Cr Bradbery.

Competition winners for the two categories, ages 12-24 and over-25, will be announced following the screening. Together they’ll share in $4,000 worth of prizes, short courses and equipment hire from Australian Film Television and Radio School, Ten Alphas, Wollongong Camera Hire and SF3.

Actor Michael Theo and producer Vincent Sheehan will serve as celebrity judges.

“Since shooting to fame in Love on the Spectrum, Michael has become a fan favourite not only in Australia but around the world. Vincent was an executive producer on Animal Kingdom and his latest feature film Shayda won the Audience Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

“These two know what it takes to make a career in film and will be out to find the Illawarra’s next big thing,” said Cr Bradbery.

The best competition entries will be screened alongside commissioned films created in partnership with Screen Illawarra, Bus Stop Films, and The Secret Waterhole (pictured), written by Elias Rees and directed by Phillip Crawford from Coequal.

Save the date!

Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival
Saturday 7 September 2024
5pm - 8.30pm
Lakeside Reserve, Kanahooka

The Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition and Festival are supported by the NSW Government under its Coastal Management Program.

Pictured: 

Image: A still from short film 'The Secret Waterhole'