Press release from FilmLife
FilmLife Project is calling for new and emerging filmmakers aged 16-35 to submit a five minute film on organ and tissue donation and the importance of asking and knowing your loved ones’ wishes.
Entrants will have the chance to gain national exposure, share in a $10,000 prize pool and to help potentially save lives.
FilmLife Project is funded by the Organ and Tissue Authority, and is an initiative to help bring greater youth engagement and awareness to DonateLife Week, Australia’s national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation. This year DonateLife Week takes place from
Sunday 19 to Sunday 26 February 2012.
Dr Jonathon Gillis, National Medical Director said “This is an exciting project and one that actively promotes the key message for DonateLife Week of asking and knowing your loved ones’ wishes.
"We are very keen to see the films in their final product and hope to identify some that can be used for wider community education and engagement”.
New, emerging and interested filmmakers should submit their short film as a DVD or on USB by 6pm on Monday 13 February 2012. All details are available here.
Already, as many as 25 young filmmakers have registered to participate in a specially-curated, FREE workshop in Parramatta on 21, 22 and 28 January. Here they will talk with people who have been impacted by organ or tissue donation and learn essential filmmaking skills taught by experts.
Jess is one of those attending the workshop and is submitting a film. Jess had a double lung transplant two years ago at the age of 17. Since then, she has actively been campaigning for organ and tissue donation in the media and sees film as an ideal medium to expand on her work.
Jess says, “I understand the complexities of organ and tissue donation and will bring my own story and experiences of those around me to my short film. I look forward to focusing my enthusiasm and passion into getting this important message further out in the public sphere.”
FilmLife Project Judges will include legendary and prolific Australian filmmaker and director Paul Cox, who has made 22 feature films over four decades. He recently had a remarkable brush with death and received a liver transplant in 2009.
The FilmLife Project Official Screening will be held at the Information + Cultural Exchange in Parramatta on Saturday 18 February 2012, with awards given for Best Film, Best Interpretation of the Theme and the People’s Choice award. The People’s Choice Award will be announced on Friday 24 February 2012 following a public Facebook vote.
Up for grabs is a total prize package worth $10,000, with the overall winner taking home a state-of-the-art video camera and access to an editing suite for their next film, and national exposure for the top works at the upcoming Sydney Film Festival.
All young and emerging Australian filmmakers aged 16 to 35 wanting to explore this topic are encouraged to visit the website to find out more as well as connect up with FilmLife on Facebook for the latest news.