Young Filmmakers Winning Ideas to Reduce Road Trauma

31 Jul 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: 31 July 2012

Seven young Melbourne filmmakers hoping to reduce youth road trauma have been named finalists in this year's TAC Make a Film, Make a Difference (MAFMAD) competition.

The finalists, all under 25 and from suburban Melbourne, submitted ideas for short films that address the 'party in the car' issue.

They were chosen following an in-depth judging process that reviewed almost 400 entries in the state-wide competition.

The finalists are:

• Jonathan Burton of East Malvern
• Jordan Weizman, Caulfield
• Jake Farfoud, Taylors Lakes
• Jessica Swarcbord, Prahran
• Tom Swinburn, Preston
• Robert Wilson, Beaumaris
• Michael Minichilli, Somerton

MAFMAD, now in its 10th year, calls on young Victorians to create a short film about looking after their mates on the road.

This year's finalists will now go through a second round of judging to further analyse their scripts before the best two short film ideas are selected.

Winners receive a $20,000 production budget and the help of mentors to produce their film, plus $5,000 prize money.

The winning films will be shown across movie screens, on television, online and at music festivals next summer.

TAC Senior Manager Road Safety and Marketing, John Thompson, said young people continued to be over-represented in road trauma.

"It's critical that we involve young people in helping us send messages to their peers about staying safe on the roads, and the MAFMAD competition is one way we are doing that," he said.

"This year's finalists are not only promising filmmakers in their own right, but their ideas for MAFMAD films have the potential to really make a difference to road safety in this state."

Thirty-six Victorians aged 18-25 have been killed on the roads this year so far, compared to 46 at the same time last year.

Find out more about MAFMAD at www.mafmad.com.au or on the MAFMAD Facebook page.

Media contact: Sarah Henderson on 0429 294 262.