The 2008 Commonwealth Bank Reed Deal Short Film festival will be based at Bankstown this year – attracting hundreds of film-makers who will be brought into the spotlight. While the Bryan Brown scholarship is up for graps, other prizes consist of cash and prizes. Mark Gelao reports.

Young Australian film-makers will compete for the Bryan Brown Film Scholarship at the 2008 Commonwealth Bank Reel Deal Short Film Festival.

The festival was created three years ago by Linda Joannides as part of Bankstown City Council’s 25th anniversary. And Bankstown was purposely chosen as the base of the competition.

“It was also done to consciously spotlight that film makers can come from anywhere,” Ms Joannides said. “Bankstown has a very high migrant population… but a lot of them have a story to tell.”

The film festival is designed to identify and assist Australian film-makers of the future. “The festival is open to anyone and it operates on a national basis,” Ms Joannides said. “We want to make sure this festival and the chance to be part of it is accessible to everyone.”

She also said she worked with Bryan Brown, successful Australian actor and film-maker who grew up in the Bankstown area, to start the Reel Deal Short Film Festival. “He [Brown] is patron of the event and lends his name to the scholarship – the Bryan Brown Film Scholarship,” Ms Joannides said. “Bryan is also very involved in the mentoring process with the finalists.”

Mr Brown’s career is part of the inspiration behind this year’s urban and outback theme. Entrants are required to have one on location scene shot at Broken Hill or Bankstown in their films. “Bryan has had a long association with the area having made many films in Broken Hill, the latest of which is Cactus,” Ms Joannides said. “Plus we also want to encourage young film makers from Broken Hill to tell their stories as well.”

The theme also gives the expected 60-70 contestants, most of who come from the city, a chance to capture something different. “It is the quintessential Australian landscape that is so evocative on film,” Ms Joannides said. She also said her main hope when starting the film festival was to foster the future film-makers of Australia.

A Bryan Brown Film Scholarship, valued at $5000, is the overall major prize for most outstanding achievement. The scholarship entitles the winner to the choice of any relevant film course run by AFTRS (Australian Film Television and Radio School), the University of Western Sydney (UWS) or any recognised film school in Australia. An additional major prize of $5000 cash is awarded to the best film while winners within the 10 categories receive a $1000 grant.

Robert Leggo won the 2007 Best Director award for his work on The Collectors. He believes the festival is a rare opportunity for unknown film-makers to gain exposure for their work. Mr Leggo said he first entered the competition in 2006 after seeing posters displayed at the UWS where he studies. “I saw Bryan Brown and cash and knew I had to have a crack at it,” he said.

The competition is structured so all entrants have a fair chance of winning and the best opportunity to improve. “The short production timeline imposed by the organisers goes a long way to help level the playing field,” Mr Leggo said. “You get senior industry people on hand at the awards night giving you great feedback as to what to do better.”

After gaining invaluable experience over the past two years, Mr Leggo said he planned to enter the competition for a third year running. While he has an idea for his film, it will depend on the availability of his actors and crew. “We don’t know what we’ll be shooting until dangerously close to the date but we await shooting with a great deal of excitement and anticipation,” Mr Leggo said.

He also credits the recent success of his work to opportunities the Reel Deal Short Film Festival has created. “Respect in my job as a video tech support person went up a notch and the prize money allowed me to update my 10-year-old camera,” Mr Leggo said. “Which probably went a long way to helping me win another festival.”

Mr Leggo believes aspiring film-makers can gain more from the competition than just the cash and prizes. “Greater confidence… and above all a really fun, hardworking production experience so that all heads can be held high as we compete for a short listing and hopefully for prizes,” he said.

The Reel Deal Short Film Festival awards night will be held at Revesby Workers Club on Saturday August 2. The viewer’s choice public screening is on Sunday, July 13. Submissions are due on Monday, June 30. For more information visit Reel Deal.