Student films among competition finalists

Bunbury’s budding filmmakers are showcasing their own interpretations of a birthday card as part of the Cinesnaps Short Film Competition.

Of 23 short films submitted for this year’s competition, which encourages budding South West filmmakers to create original short films as part of the CinefestOz Festival week, seven made it to the final round, and four of those were created by Bunbury students.

This year’s theme was The Birthday Card and three of the shortlisted films were produced by Manea College students, including Jasmine Guinness and Stoney Webb’s The Getaway Plan, Abbey King’s Break a Leg and Emily Reeves’ Flavours of You.

This was the 17-year-olds’ first short film competition and they were excited to find out what others thought of their work.

Bunbury Cathedral Grammar’s James Forster was also a finalist for his film Salt Water.

Media and design teacher Hayley Searle said her students started working on their films in February, submitting them in June, and she was “really impressed” with what they had created.

“These guys have done a really good job,” she said.

The films will be judged by Cinesnaps patron Myles Pollard, director Rhiannon Bannenberg and actor Mark Coles Smith, with the grand finale on August 24.

Tickets are available from cinefestoz.com.