It is a little known fact that breaking into any genre within the arts industry isn’t an easy thing to do. Unfortunately, that too is true for the film industry, but luckily, for emerging young filmmakers there’s the Hillside Film Festival.
It is a little known fact that breaking into any genre within the arts industry isn’t an easy thing to do. Unfortunately, that too is true for the film industry, but luckily, for emerging young filmmakers there’s the Hillside Film Festival.
Heading into its sixth year, the Hillside Film Festival is a great opportunity for Victorian-based filmmakers under the age of 30 to exhibit their short filmmaking skills. The initiative, created through the Burrinja Community Arts Centre, is currently open for submissions for their 2011 season, and entries close on November 29. In 2009 and 2010, the sold out event saw over 200 people attend, as well as film producers, renowned filmmakers, writers and so on from within the industry, making it an ideal hub for aspiring filmmakers to have their work seen.
“The original organisers of this festival were trying to create a bit of an even playing field for younger filmmakers,” explains Tilla Buden, director of the festival. “So, rather than having to compete with filmmakers that have had 30 years of experience, this festival is for younger filmmakers to just compete with each other and get their work on the big screen. I think just getting your work out there and getting it seen by the right people can be a real challenge.”
Past winners have gone on to do big things, which is testament to the reach the festival has in the film industry. “We are very proud of some of our past filmmakers to see where they have got to. There are a couple of filmmakers that have gone on to show the films that were screened in our festival at the Cannes Film Festival, which is probably the ideal place where you would want to get your films to. So that is exciting to see them go on to do that sort of thing, and lots of other film festivals internationally as well.”
Amongst them is filmmaker Dustin Feneley, who has screened his films every year at the event and even had one of his films show at Cannes – an amazing feat considering the Hillside Film Festival is only open to participants under 30.
This year, the event has already confirmed award-winning short filmmaker, Glendyn Ivin and film critic, Paul Harris as judges. Winners of the festival stand the chance to win a $1000 in cash as well as a prize pack from Madman E ntertainment and the opportunity to be a part of the Open Channel Young Filmmakers Holiday Workshop. The festival welcomes short films of any genre, so long as they are less than 15 minutes in length. Plus, if you have a penchant for creating music videos, a brand new music video category has been added to the upcoming event.
“We just thought that’s another part of our agenda in supporting short films, and that is another style of short films that we could support a little better by giving it its own category,” explains Buden.
Over the years, the event has played host to films that span a myriad of genres from documentaries to horror, to animation and stop motion. “It is just one big open short film category,” says Buden. “It is a great chance for filmmakers to get their projects out without having a theme dictated to them or anything like that. Some festivals require specifics but we are just happy to accept whatever your favourite project is.”
“We look for original storytelling, and we’re not necessarily looking for projects with the biggest budgets or anything like that; we are just looking for original storytelling and a well-executed idea.”
The event is curated by the festival committee who collectively select around 20 films from around 100 submissions, which are then screened in front of a panel of judges. Whilst the festival is very much catered for filmmakers, it is also a great event for film-lovers alike. “We screen at an outdoor cinema in the Hills,” says Buden. “If you can imagine, surrounded by big tall gum trees with the sun setting behind the cinema screen while bands are playing.” Furthermore, with such a wide range of films, the 2011 programme is sure to appeal to everyone.
Entries for The Hillside Film Festival close on November 29. For more info and to enter, go to hillsidefilmfestival.com.
