Bunbury high school students, and budding filmmakers, have been named finalists in the 2021 Cinesnaps Short Film Competition, set to go ahead next month as part of the 14th CinefestOZ Film Festival.
Topping masses of young filmmakers, eight short films by the students will be showcased as part of the festival program, set to be viewed by film industry professionals.
The eight short films going through to the finals include six entries from the year 10 to 12 category, and two entries from the year 7 to 9 category.
Students selected to be screened at the festival, and included in a red carpet event on August 26, are:
- Ella Demarchi from St Mary MacKillop College with her film Sincerely H
- Aiden Gillett and Jake Holland from Cape Naturaliste College with their film Treasure Heist
- Henry Baker and Edward Baker from Great Southern Grammar with their film Pillow Dude and the unexpected weird attack of
- Mr Bellybutton Fluff
- Julia Spencer and Darcy Eagles from Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School with their film The Meaning of Treasure
- Josh Clark from Great Southern Grammar with his film One Man's Trash
- Mia Swanepoel from Great Southern Grammar with her film The Treasure of Courage
- Jordyn Brown and Kaila Byrne from Cape Naturaliste College with their film My Treasure
- Jorja Plant, Chloe Basten, Brooklyn Kiddie, Ty Guretti, and Liam Thomas from Harvey Senior High School with their film Treasure
Now in its ninth year, the Cinesnaps Short Film Competition invites students from the South West and the Great Southern Region to create and showcase an original three to five minute short film based on a specific theme.
This year's theme was Treasure.
The finalist's short films will be screened before an audience of 200 people on August 26 at the Esplanade Hotel in Busselton.
This year is the first time the competition has included a category for students in years 7-9, with previous editions of the Cinesnaps Short Film Competition only open to students in years 10-12.
CinefestOZ chief executive Malinda Nixon said this year's entries were the most the festival had ever seen and she was thrilled to see such excitement from students entering the competition.
"It's sensational to see so many students from these Regions interested in film and we can't wait to screen their work at the Festival next month," she said.
Ms Nixon said the Cinesnaps program wouldn't be possible without the generous funding of festival sponsor and community partner Rio Tinto.
Rio Tinto community relations Regional FIFO communities manager Justin Francesconi said the Cinensnaps program fostered creativity and technical innovation for students in the area.
"The program provides a wonderful opportunity for young creatives to showcase their talent and develop their film making skills," he said.
"Rio Tinto is proud to support Cinesnaps as part of its partnership with CinefestOZ and congratulates all this year's entrants."
Short films by the students will also be screened as part of the Free Community Screenings event which will take place between August 28 and 29 in Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, and Augusta.
Tickets to the Cinesnaps Short Film Competition Red Carpet and Grand Finale event will go on sale from July 30.
The eight films will be judged by an expert Jury Panel which will be announced in the coming weeks.