Millingandi’s Zach Hooker could have a promising future in the film industry if the judges of the South East Arts YOOFTube program are anything to go by.
At simultaneous screenings in Narooma and Merimbula on Monday night, young filmmakers from across the Eurobodalla, Bega Valley and Snowy Monaro waited anxiously for the awards to be announced for 2016.
The young film buff’s Crushed was announced as the winner of the best film directed by someone under 15 years of age.
He walked away from the night with $500 which he said he plans to share with his friends at Stage Flight Drama School in Pambula who acted in and helped him make the film.
Zach was one of many Bega Valley entrants who performed well in the competition.
Tathra actor and director Lucca Paijmans won a week long workshop with National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) as the winner of the Best Actor award and also received $1000 as the prize of the best Bega Valley Film for his short Victoria’s Secret.
Four Lumen Christi students also did well with Jessica Palacios and Carlie Stolzenhein winning the Shows Promise prize, Rian Reynolds winning the Screenwriting Award and Ruby Bichard’s annimated film Possibilities being award the prize for Best Sound.
However, despite impressive efforts from Bega Valley youths it was 16-year-old Laila Bradshaw from Cooma who took out out the award for best film with her stop-motion animation Flowers.
“It's a beautiful piece which is well-made, short and straight to the point," South East Arts general manager Andrew Gray said at the Merimbula screening on Monday night.
“The judging panel spent a long time deliberating over the winning entries but the decision was completely unanimous when it came to Laila Bradshaw's winning film Flowers.
"The level of entries across the region was fantastic.”
The YOOFube short film festival is strongly supported by filmmakers, businesses and service organisations right across the region, as well as local councils, Mr Gray said.
The final 12 entries will be screened at the inaugural Batemans Bay International Fringe Festival on September 23 and also in Cooma on September 26.
Mr Gray said throughout the remainder of the year and through 2017 the winning films will also be shown at events and schools around the region.
See www.southeastarts.org.au for more information.
FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS:
BEST FILM - Supported by J.D. Shaw
Flowers by Laila Bradshaw
Best FILM directed by someone under 15 years of age – Supported by J.D. Shaw
Crushed by Zach Hooker
Best Music Video – Brought to you by JD Shaw and Toni Houston Media
Escape by Oscar Litchfield
Best Actor – The Oh'Allmhurain Films Prize
Lucca Paijmans in Victoria's Secret
ABC Open & JD Shaw Shows Promise Prize
City Animals by Jessica Palacios and Carlie Stolzenhein
Real & Imagined and JD Shaw Screenwriting Award
Bigger Things - Rian Reynolds & Liam Baildon
Pi Productions and JD Shaw Cinematography Prize
Escape - Daniel Swain
Rebel Films Best Documentary/Mockumentary
Everyone is Different - Ben Angus
South East Arts Best Sound Prize
Ruby Bichard - Possibilities
Eurobodalla Shire Council award for Best Eurobodalla Film
To Say A Word - Annabelle Scobie
Torchlight Media Best Documentary from Eurobodalla with JD Shaw
Jye McDonald by Lachlan Callander
Best Community Issues Film from Snowy Monaro Rotary Club of Cooma
Joint winners:
Turnaround - Anna Brayshaw, Julia Davies, Brianna Rankin and Sophie Williams
Escape - Daniel Swain
Best Bega Valley Shire Film
Lucca Paijmans - Victoria's Secret
YOOFTube 2016 Encouragement Award Sponsored by Mr Neil Brown
CYADSS: The Movie by Patrick Ballard
