The future of the Australian film industry is in extraordinarily safe and creative hands, if the nominated finalists in the Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF) are any indication.
A total of 774 entries were received for this year’s second annual festival, with 30 finalists shortlisted across five categories. The free-to-enter competition is dedicated to finding, celebrating, and empowering the next generation of Australian filmmakers and creators.
Festival Director, Ryan Chow, said the films demonstrated the depth of talent among Australia’s young people.
“Our judges said the films displayed creativity, inventiveness, professionalism and an incredibly diverse range of subjects,” Mr Chow said.
“Documentary entries increased by around 20% this year, reflecting a growing interest in real-world storytelling.
“Our shortlisted entrants spoke of being motivated by social impact themes; by a desire for visibility and opportunity within the Australian film industry and a passion for storytelling rooted in personal lived experience.”
Judge Michelle Pizanis from Blackmagic Design said she welcomed the opportunity to judge the short films this year.
“Watching the creativity and talent on display has inspired my faith that the next generation of filmmakers will continue to push boundaries and keep our industry thriving,” she said.
Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty said: “The Australian Youth Film Festival is vital because it connects emerging creatives, helping them grow and be seen.”
The finalists are as follows:
Best Cinematography
A Man Paints a Woman by Thomas van Gool, Sydney
Find Yourself by Finn Andrew, Sydney
Hold Me Gently by Jordan Griffey, Sydney
Je Vis En Toi by Patrick Femia, Gold Coast
Kindling by Danni Fenech, Sydney
Stonewall by Lily Lunder, Melbourne (Narre Warren)
Best Editing
Fish Fight by Alyssa Wong, Melbourne
Killer Commute by Brie Bartleet, Melbourne
White Lines by Oliver Ivin-Poole, Melbourne
Pulp Miser by Des McRedmond, Canberra
Stuck in a Memory by Max Stanner, Sydney
Best Documentary
Black Cockatoos: Cultural Significance by Dannon Wu, Perth
From Darkness to Strength: Black Saturday by Elina Jayamanna, Melbourne
Greener Pastures by Lachlan Sonnemann, Melbourne
Minara by Bradley Hogan, Melbourne
Pretend I Existed by Quoc Huy Tran, Sydney
Home by Sasha Babina, Adelaide
Humpback – Adapting to Humanity by Alexander Forrest, Albany
Best Animation
Along Swanston by Chloe Lau, Melbourne
Red Moon by Kath Yuan, Melbourne
Flash by Willow Ferris, Sydney
Self-Portrait by Mahdi Poursamad, Sydney
The Rise of the Mannequin by Chanel Bocman, Sydney
Best Acting
Drifters by Yiyang David Liu, Sydney
Lucinda and Marion by Sasha Byk Giroux, Sydney
The Last (Hot) Guy On Earth by Sam Davison, Sydney
In Human Skin by Sienna Jewell, Melbourne
Gabriel by Kevin Duran Du, Melbourne
Me, My Ralph and I by Maggie Brittingham, Melbourne
Reunion by Kye Hay, Whittlesea (VIC)
The “ABC Best Overall Film” will be chosen from this shortlist.
Prizes include a mix of professional filmmaking equipment, mentorship opportunities, and educational programs.
Successful finalists will participate in an industry day on 3 July, visitihg Blackmagic Design, ABC Southbank studios and Sony. This is an exclusive event designed to provide the finalists with unparalleled access to industry insights, networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences.
Other data on the 2025 AUYFF entries:
- General narrative films (drama, comedy, horror) dominated, making up 513 entries (66%)
- Animation entries reached 110 (14%) – a steady rise from last year
- The average entrant age was 19.8 years, while the average finalist was 20.4 years
- Female filmmakers accounted for 40% of all entries – and made up nearly half (47%) of this year’s finalists.
- 6% of entrants identified outside the binary gender
- Many finalists reported using borrowed or school-provided equipment, underscoring the accessibility of the festival.
- Only 3% of all entries reported using AI tools.
A live-streamed red carpet awards ceremony will be held on Friday 4 July at ACMI, Swinburne, Federation Square in Melbourne.
For information, please visit https://auyff.com
About The Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF):
The Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF) is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to finding, celebrating, and empowering the next generation of Australian filmmakers and creators. Open to young creatives aged 15-24, the festival provides a national platform for emerging talent to showcase their work, gain industry exposure, and access invaluable learning opportunities.
AUYFF is the Australian counterpart to the New Zealand Youth Film Festival (NZYFF), founded in 2022. Together, the festivals serve as a launchpad for young filmmakers, supporting the long-term sustainability of the screen industry by nurturing new talent and creativity. The program is entirely free to enter, ensuring accessibility to aspiring filmmakers across the country.
About Ryan Chow, founder, the Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF)
Social entrepreneur Ryan Chow is the Founder and Director of the Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF) and the New Zealand Youth Film Festival (NZYFF), both not-for-profit organisations supported by industry leaders like Canon, Adobe, and Blackmagic Design.
A Canadian commerce and media graduate, Ryan founded AUYFF in 2023 following the success of NZYFF, which he started while at university. Ryan is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for young filmmakers and creating positive social outcomes in communities around the world. His work has been recognised by The Walt Disney Company, HBO, and HM The King’s Trust accelerator program.
