SYDNEY SCIENCE FICTION FILM FESTIVAL TO SCREEN SWIFF NEXTWAVE GENRE SHORTS
The Screenwave International Film Festival has partnered with The Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival to co-present a selection of titles from the 2021 SWIFF's Nextwave Regional Youth Film Competition.
Eleven shorts have been selected from the finalists screened as part of the Nextwave Youth Film Awards - SWIFF'21 at C.ex Coffs Harbour. The films will feature in the SSFFF 2021 program, to be held November 4-13 at the Actors Centre Australia in Leichhardt in Sydney’s inner-west for its second year.
Nextwave is SWIFF’s national program that develops, celebrates, and recognises the filmmaking talents of young regional Australians. Beginning with the Nextwave Team teaching fundamental film skills virtually across Australia through the new Nextwave Online education portal, to young filmmakers producing original short films and entering them into the Nextwave competition, the annual program culminates in the awards ceremony.
“Nextwave enables the next generation of Australian genre filmmakers to ignite and explore their passion for storytelling,” says Simon Foster, Festival Director of the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival. “It is a central goal of our festival to nurture speculative visionaries, and these are some of the best young imaginations our country has to offer.”
“Science fiction offers us a window into the future, and it’s no wonder the next generation of filmmaking voices have a lot to say through the genre.” says Saige Browne, Program Manager of SWIFF’s Nextwave Regional Youth Film initiative. “Giving a platform to the next wave of creative minds through partnership with SSFFF is a thrilling opportunity for an exceptional crop of talent.”
The 11 films to screen at the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival are:
A LIGHT IN THE NIGHT (Dirs: AMIRA & KAIA TEOH SEEBER | 3:20 mins | 10-14 years | Shenton College) One mysterious night, three sleepy bears. Where will their curiosity take them? And will they still be hungry?
WHAT’S NEXT? (Dirs: AVA CLARKE-VERES, EVANGELINE MARTIN | 3:35 mins | 10-14 years | St Columba Anglican School) Mollie is drawn towards a mysterious book, but when she starts to notice just how realistic this book is, magical forces get out of hand.
BRAIN STORM (Dirs: BEN ROSENBERG, LAWSON BOOTH | 4:47 mins | 15-17 years | Toowoomba Grammar School) Two classmates are struggling to impress one another with their film ideas. With one week remaining until deadline, they’ll need to set aside their differences because... well, they just have to!
DEVOUR (Dir: SOPHIE BAGSTER | 3:30 mins | 15-17 years | Oxley High School) After a night of pure partying awkwardness, a teenage girl has found herself feeling strange. Something ominous lurks, and she can almost taste it.
COME DOWNSTAIRS (Dir: BRAYDEN CURETON | 3:02 mins | 18-25 years | Toowoomba Christian College) After receiving a message from someone who shouldn’t be home, Thomas is slowing piecing together that he might not be alone as he thought.
OZYMANDIAS (Dir: TOM DEARNALEY | 2:06 mins | 18-25 years | QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Power doesn’t last forever.
LOST IN THE LAKE (Dir: COOPER WARD | 4:06 mins | 15-17 years | Woolgoolga High School) Two army cadets search for one another... but as they circle the lake, they come across someone, or something else.
RURAL QUEST (Dirs: WILLIAM BUTLER, JACK MORGAN, DYLAN MANN | 5:00 mins | 15-17 years | St Paul's Catholic Secondary College, Kempsey) Magic. Teleportation. Duels. Chases. Clues. And...Treasure. The showdown against good and evil! This race for victory and epicness will have you on the edge of your seat.
THE BEACH (Dirs: LACHLAN RECK, MICHAELA FORBES | 2:07 mins | 10-14 years | St Columba Anglican College) A pleasant day at the beach for two friends takes an unexpected turn when things are no longer what they seem.
THE SWITCH (Dir: KAELYN WARD | 4:22 mins | 18-25 years) When unearthly giggles are heard from the bedroom, lights flicker uncontrollably and the smell of rotting cheese disgorges from the air conditioner, this dream home might just be a nightmare.
WHAT’S NEXT (Dir: FRANCOISE DIK | 1:08 mins | 15-17 years | Coffs Harbour Senior College) Awakened by a blinding blue light coming from an ominous bush outside, our protagonist is taken to an unknown place with no knowledge of what comes next.