Breaking into Australian film

The Metro Screen Breaks Awards for emerging filmmakers announced 14 lucky recipients of funding, mentorship, and technical support in late March.

Twelve winners received First Break awards, comprising $3,000 to make an 8-minute short film, as well as access to production facilities, specific training in production and script development, and of course a free screening of the finished work for cast and crew.

Two Breakout awards were also announced, providing winners with similar resource support, but also larger budgets of $15,000 toward making a 15-minute feature.

Highly progressive, three of the awards are set aside for indigenous filmmakers and four are reserved for filmmakers of non-English speaking backgrounds. Overwhelmed by more than 150 applicants submitting draft scripts and story outlines for judgment, Metro is yet to announce the Indigenous Breakthrough award for 2011 with its accompanying budget of $22,000 for a 20-minute project.

The only other requirements ensure that recipients are genuine beginners, with entrants required to have not yet featured in recognised film festivals, had any production credits, or been accredited for any previously released projects.

Based at Paddington Town Hall, Metro Screen has been actively supporting a variety of professional and debutante screen talent for over 30 years and currently is involved in over 100 projects annually in Australia. A number of recipients of the 2010 Screen Break awards variously went on to feature as finalists and official selections in a number of international film festivals, with one awardee being played on QANTAS international flights.

Alexandra Edmondson, recipient of support for her short film The Burnt Cork “There are so few funding programs available for first time and emerging filmmakers to make a short. Without an opportunity like First Break and the support of Metro Screen it would have been very difficult for me to attract the money and the team of people needed to make The Burnt Cork. “ Without Metro’s support, she believes any number of young filmmakers might never find a way into this particularly challenging industry.

For more info, visit www.metroscreen.org.au