Nextwave Short Film Competition

Presented by the Coffs Coast’s Screenwave International Film Festival, since 2014 the Nextwave youth film education program has taught over 5000 students across Australia how to use filmmaking as a communications tool along with important mental health education.

Nextwave aims to shine a spotlight on young Australians between the ages of 10-25, giving young creatives an opportunity to learn the craft of filmmaking, to have their stories seen, and to be recognised for their creative contributions.

The Nextwave program consists of three elements:

• NEXTWAVE ONLINE: a film education subscription service to help teach young Australians, teachers, and councils how to produce short films in their community.
• NEXTWAVE SHORT FILM COMPETITION: open to all young people aged 10 -25 years across Australia (including metro) which culminates in the Nextwave Youth Film Awards held during SWIFF on the Coffs Coast.
• NEXTWAVE SCREENINGS: a screenings program during Youth Week that feature the finalists’ films from the Nextwave Short Film Competition

Nextwave Short Film Competition INFO

Now in its seventh year Nextwave is host to Australia’s largest regional youth short film competition and is free to enter for young people aged between 10 – 25 years, living anywhere in Australia.

Short films can range from a variety of genres, including comedies, dramas, thrillers, sci-fi, animation, documentary and personal essays. All that is needed to enter is to make a short film under five minutes (including all credits) and to creatively include the 2021 unique theme, “Pineapple”!

Along with an array of awards and prizes across a variety of age categories, short film finalists will have their films premiere at the SWIFF in Coffs Harbour in 2022. Lucky creatives will also have the opportunity for their films to screen at venues across Australia for Youth Week in April 2022.

Entries close 12 October 2021. See the full list of Competition rules HERE