Press Release

CAUSE FILM FESTIVAL SHORT FILM SCREENING AND AWARDS NIGHT

We are gearing up for our 4th annual showcase of short films that raise awareness for worthy causes. The top ten finalists in this unique and inspiring filmmaking competition were selected in January and since then over 800 people have voted online for their favourite to win Best Film.

Although Cause Film Festival is an international festival, this year 70% of the top ten finalists are Australian and New Zealand filmmakers.

Championing the festival is Director Suki Foster, “This year’s entries were the highest standard we’ve ever had and judging was incredibly difficult. Our judges this year are all very successful in their own expertise within the film industry and they all acknowledged the extremely high standard of filmmaking and the obvious passion of the filmmakers.”

One such local filmmaker is Rachael Belle Myers, whose film “Curated Illusions” highlights the importance of road safety. Rachael who has recently appeared regularly in the press says she hopes her film will deter drivers from looking at their phones and hence reduce the traffic accident toll.

A significant 4 out of 10 of the Australian finalists’ films address mental health as their cause this year highlighting this area of concern and awareness in the local community. These films  include Brendan Byrne’s “I’m here too” about teenage suicide prevention, James Hartley’s comedy “James is Grandiose” documenting a filmmaker’s battle with schizo-affective disorder, “Winter Retreat” made by Anne Brito and Nell Nakkan, as well as the humourous “Suicide Toilet” by local filmmakers Jasmin Anderson and Kevin Kim.

The Cause Film Festival Awards Night and screening of the short films is heralded to be fun-filled and glamorous event. Founder Yolandi Franken will host the evening along with Festival Director Suki Foster and this year the evening will be M.C’d by up and coming comedian and performer Prema Smith whose humour and high energy will keep the evening light and entertaining. There may even be the appearance of a star or two as StarCentral Magazine, Australia’s forerunning publication that showcases new up and coming Australian talent will be there to hand out the “StarCentral Award for Best Actor”.

With 6 awards to be won and a total of over AU$7,000 worth of prizes, including a full-page spread in StarCentral magazine for Best Actor, Australian Film Institute membership and Camera Hire equipment among other prizes, filmmakers are coming out in force to attend this fantastic event. But the top prize which is for Best Film is a donation of all the film festival profits to be awarded to the winner’s nominated charity.

The public are encouraged to come along to this glamorous and heartwarming celebration of the force of good in the world. With a red carpet entry, speakers and screening of the films, you can also join in the after-party where you will get the opportunity to speak to the filmmakers about the films and issues they support. There won’t be any fundraising going on at the event, it is purely for awareness and a celebration of filmmaking and good causes.

Cause Film Festival is held on 8th March 2018 at Riverside Theatre in Parramatta which is Sydney’s burgeoning centre for the arts.

Tickets are available now at Riverside Parramatta:

KEY DATES: 8 March Awards Night

As always, we're super grateful to our wonderful sponsors and our official media partner; Star Central Magazine

Sponsored by: Riverside Theater, Australian Film Institute, DaVinci Resolve 12, Camera Hire, Suki Foster Photography, Damian Nixey Digital Producer, Black Magic Design, White Ronin Productions and Digital Logic

CAUSE FILM FESTIVAL FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

We are excited beyond belief to announce our top ten finalists for this year’s Cause Film Festival! It feels like a looooong time since we opened for entries last year and our Judges have been locked away reviewing and rating the films for a week! But the day has finally come to reveal who's made it to the Top Ten.....!

Top Ten Finalists.JPG

Charities, filmmakers and the general public were invited to enter films from all over the world and we got a wonderful array of different kinds of films. The judges were blown away by the level of skill, creativity, professionalism and PASSION shown in all the films, from the ones filmed on the highest quality equipment to the low budget smartphone films.

So without further ado...

The top ten finalists are:
Changing the Tide (Environment)
Curated Illusions (Road Safety)
I'm Here Too (Suicide Prevention)
James Is Grandiose (Mental Health)
Winter Retreat (Beyond Blue)
Operations 2017 I Children of Sumatra (Children of Sumatra)
Remember everything, to not forget anyone (Migrants from Africa)
Superheroes (Luke Batty Foundation)
Suicide Toilet (Anti-Depression/Suicide Prevention)
The Cycle (LGBT rights and inclusion)

But it's not over yet!

The finalists are now able to raise their overall score through public voting which will count as a percentage towards their overall score. The purpose of the public voting is to ensure that filmmakers are able to spread their awareness messages far and wide.

So if you already know who you want to vote for, head to our polling page at causefilmfestival.org/2018films, and you can read more about the filmmakers and synopses of the films before deciding too.

These top ten films will be screened as part of the Screening and Awards Night which will be held on 8 March 2018 at the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta and on that night you will see the well-deserved award winners receive their awards and prizes, presented by industry pros. There will be film related speakers and an opportunity to meet the filmmakers after the awards ceremony.

Tickets are available at Riverside Parramatta.

Cause Film Festival is designed to celebrate and raise awareness for worthy causes and the awards night intends to bring together these filmmakers with the general public and celebrate their achievements in bringing these messages to a wide audience.

There will be awards for Best Film, two Runner Ups, Best Actor, Most Uplifting and more.

    One of the main incentives of entering Cause Film Festival is that all profits go to the charity or cause represented by the winning film, and there are lots of very worthy causes nominated by the filmmakers.

    Other important dates:
    PUBLIC VOTING: 23 January to 6 March 2018
    FESTIVAL NIGHT:  Thursday, 8 March 2018

    As always, we're super grateful to our wonderful sponsors and our official media partner; Star Central Magazine

    Sponsored by: Riverside Theater, Australian Film Institute, DaVinci Resolve 12, Camera Hire, Suki Foster Photography, Damian Nixey Digital Producer, Black Magic Design, White Ronin Productions and Digital Logic