FINALISTS VIE TO MAKE FILMMAKING DREAMS COME TRUE

12 Jun 2009

MEDIA RELEASE: 12 June 2009

A panel of film industry judges has today selected nine finalists for the Make a Film, Make a Difference (MAFMAD) competition.

MAFMAD asks people aged 25 and under to submit a film concept that will challenge young people's attitudes towards driving, risk taking and looking out for their mates on the road.

TAC Senior Marketing Manager John Thompson said the finalists were chosen from more than 300 entries to the competition.

"Of the 2009 entries, the youngest entrant was 14 years old, one entrant submitted 11 ideas and most of the entries were from males," Mr Thompson said.

The finalists are:

• Chris Baker, Glen Waverley
• Adam Bigum, Altona North
• Bill Irving, Brunswick
• Carmen Knox, Hampton East
• Bede McKenna, Wallan (youngest entrant)
• Timothy Melville, Thornbury
• Mitchell Page, Maribyrnong
• Matthew Priem, Donvale
• Peter Shand, Glen Iris.

"Over the next month, the judges will whittle down the finalists to two winners, who will get the chance to work with respected film industry mentors as they bring their ideas to life and to the big screen," Mr Thompson said.

The two winners also receive a $20,000 production budget and $5,000 prize money.

The winning films are screened at cinemas and online across the state during the summer and at youth events such as the Falls Festival and the Big Day Out.

Mr Thompson thanked the high calibre panel of judges, including actor Angus Sampson, St Kilda Film Festival director Adele Denison, Mushroom Marketing's Managing Director Carl Gardiner and Mike Reed from production company MRPPP along with representatives from the TAC and its agencies.

"MAFMAD has produced 13 films over the past 6 years, each with a unique approach to the competition brief and producing outstanding films that have picked up awards globally," Mr Thompson said.

Find out more at www.mafmad.com.au