Send in your shorts!

City of Darwin is excited to launch Fresh Genre Shorts, a super short shorts film making competition for young people 12-25 years of age.

Fresh Genre Shorts is a challenge based competition consisting of four genre challenges over four weeks. To keep the competition accessible phone cameras are encouraged and entries under sixty seconds. Film makers will also need to include a mystery prop each week.

The first challenge begins on Thursday 7 May with ACTION as the genre prompt. We can’t tell you what the prop will be but here’s a clue … this creature heralds the arrival of dry season in Darwin. There will be weekly prizes for Best Short, Best Use of a Prop plus a Lucky Draw Prize, so even if entrants don’t feel confident about their film making skills there is still an opportunity to win.

At the end of the four weeks there will be an online screening of all prize winners and an overall prize awarded of $250 in giftcards redeemable at local stores.

Fresh Genre Shorts is part of the Darwin Digital Film Festival which was created by City of Darwin’s Youth Programs team, to help young people to stay connected and creative during a time of increased social isolation.

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis is encouraging all young people to get involved with Fresh Genre Shorts, as the easing of COVID-19 restrictions provides a great opportunity for young people go get out and about and enjoy and celebrate Darwin, while still adhering to social distancing.

“LAUNCH is a fantastic initiative where young people manage and lead programs and events for their peers.”

“Darwin Digital Film Festival has been created by young people, for young people. We’re really looking forward to seeing the creativity of our City’s young people in the entries, and with the easing of restrictions we expect iconic Darwin locations to feature strongly.”

Thomas Midena, one of the young producers behind Darwin Digital Film Festival said

“Fresh Genre Shorts has been created to encourage young people to have fun experimenting with different film genres.”

“We have a different genre challenge each week including action, animation, horror and musical.”

“You don’t have to have expensive camera gear to get involved, just your phone camera will do. It’s really about having a go and being creative with whatever resources you have.”

If you’re looking for inspiration check Darwin Digital Film Festival’s Showcase of Shorts on LAUNCHdarwin’s Instagram and Facebook accounts, and lookout for Patchwork Epic which will provide another great opportunity for young people to get creative with their cameras.

To stay up to date with details and announcements, and to view competition entries, follow LAUNCHdarwin on Facebook or Instagram.

For the full details on Fresh Genre Shorts, Darwin Digital Film Festival and other programs and on offer via City of Darwin’s LAUNCH programs, go to: www.launchdarwin.com.au