Emerging filmmakers will find a new audience online with the launch of #SocialShorts.
Now in its third year, #SocialShorts is a short film competition run by the Australian Film Institute (AFI) and the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA).
The best part? You get to choose the winner. Last year saw over 14,000 votes.
Short films are watched and voted for online and are separated into three categories – Comedy, Drama and Open. To vote, simply ‘like’ the short film on the #SocialShorts website and share on Facebook. The short film with the most ‘likes’ in each category will win. This year there are a record number of entries – 55 films in total.
The competition starts today and voting is open for three weeks. Each week one category will feature on the site with the winning film announced at the end of each week, starting with the Comedy category.
Online voting has its benefits: Wider audiences, no venue restrictions or capacity to worry about, and the added convenience for people to access the films anywhere, anytime.
‘It’s a great alternative to a film festival where people have to drive to it and make the effort to go. At least here you can whip out your phone and watch them – it’s so easy and convenient for people,’ said filmmaker and #SocialShorts ambassador, Matilda Brown.
Voters also have a chance to win a double pass to the 6th AACTA Awards presented by Presto Ceremony and Official After Party held at The Star Event Centre in Sydney on December 7, including flights and overnight accommodation.
The calibre of films is high as entrants in the competition are comprised of those short films which entered but were not nominated for the 5th and 6th AACTA Awards presented by Presto. #SocialShorts gives these emerging filmmakers a second opportunity to reach audiences.
‘The problem for most filmmakers is finding a platform for your film or project to be seen. To have a platform that drives people and audience to a film is great for a filmmaker. You put all this time and work into something and maybe it doesn’t get into festivals or get nominated for an AACTA award, but at least there is a place for people to see it,’ said Brown.
The winning filmmakers in each category will receive a cash prize, tickets to attend the AACTA Awards Industry Luncheon providing unique networking opportunities, industry wide recognition, and a mentorship with #SocialShorts Ambassadors Kieran Darcy Smith, Nash Edgerton, Luke Doolan and Matilda Brown.
‘I don’t think it is about me being some film guru or anything like that, but if I can be a sounding board for filmmakers then I am happy to. It’s nice to just be part of this and I’m proud to have been asked to be an ambassador for #SocialShorts,’ said Brown.
Matilda Brown; Image: supplied.
‘I’ve been working as a filmmaker for a while now and I’ve bashed my head against a brick wall and fumbled along and learnt from my mistakes. I think if you can provide other filmmakers with some of the things you’ve learnt along the way, the do’s and the don’ts and your experiences, that’s always a good thing. For me it is a way to support the Australian film industry because it has been pretty good to me. I think we all learn from each other.’
To view the short films, visit http://www.socialshorts.com.au/
