by Abhi Parasher
Open to ages 12-24, the Young Creatives Awards will spotlight youth in Sydney that show excellence in writing, art and film. Awards range from cash prizes to exhibitions and presentations.
Although the slew of awards offered are indeed tantalising, none may be more so than a chance to be mentored by the artists at Cosmic Scream, an independent production company specialising in Australian genre content.
One of the co-founders, Jayden Rathsam Hua, will also be judging the screen category for the Young Creatives Awards.
“One of the most confusing and daunting things is to have an ambition in making film but not knowing where to direct that energy,” says Jayden. “I thought it would be a great way to give back to the community but also a great way to set a precedent for what we want to do at Cosmic Scream, which is to articulate through our actions what kind of change we want to see in the industry.”
Cosmic Scream was founded by Hua along with Hugo and Henry Koehne. Working in collaboration with filmmakers who share a passion for genre, they are fascinated by the power to unite viewers worldwide through the universality of humour, fear and our curiosity to peek behind the curtain.
Genre filmmaking can be a self-indulgent pursuit, where less experienced filmmakers look for uniqueness through the unidentifiable, something Jayden can recognise.
“There is a difference between someone with expert culinary knowledge going into a pantry and making a dish and someone wearing a blindfold and throwing random things together in a pot.”
This wise insight comes from Jayden’s own experience as a filmmaker. Recently graduating with a Masters in Producing from AFTRS, Hua’s graduate film Sushi Noh, which he also wrote and directed, had a prestigious festival run, playing in festivals such as Melbourne International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Shortfest. He recently completed the TIFF Filmmakers Lab where he began development on his first feature film.
It was at TIFF’s Filmmaker Lab where the idea of Cosmic Scream was incepted.
Speaking to Cosmic Scream’s goal, Jayden says “the spirit of Cosmic Scream is to create an environment we want for ourselves.”
As an emerging filmmaker himself, Jayden understands the plight of creative youth and is able to give advice that is not only relevant on an industry level but also on a personal level.
“I think the most important thing is to never lose sight of what you are drawn to,” he says. “Always keep in mind whether or not you are making the content you want to make or the content you are expected to make.”
The Young Creative Awards submissions are open until 31 July 2023. For all relevant creatives, find more information on the Inner West website.
