By Kyra Gillespie
Entries for the Videos for Change challenge have now been shortlisted to 20, with two Berwick Beaconhills College students among the finalists.
For the first time, the general public will be able to weigh in and vote for their favourites for the People’s Choice Award, closing Sunday 28 October.
Videos for Change empowers Australian high school students to create a one-minute video to raise awareness and inspire change on the social issues that matter most to them.
In their shortlisted video ‘A Home Without Love’, Berwick students Jake and Kai tackle homophobia and youth homelessness.
Their VCE Media teacher, Nick Zomer, said the pair have been creating high quality short films for a few years now.
“For the last four years, Jake and Kai have been planning, and producing high quality short films in their own time outside of their standard Media curriculum here at Beaconhills College,” he said.
“The two students have not only founded their own production company, but have either been shortlisted or won a number of industry standard short film festivals. As each student normally heads into school holidays thinking about relaxing and some downtime, these two students have already written screenplays, drawn storyboards and are ready to shoot their next compelling story in their time away from school.
“It is a pleasure to mentor these two passionate filmmakers and I have no doubt the industry will come calling after their Year 12 schooling finished in 2019.”
Sexual assault, LGBTIQ+ rights, homophobia and homelessness are some of the other issues that have been addressed by the top entrants.
Executive Director for Videos for Change Roya Baghai said the entries received this year have been outstanding.
“We have been blown away by the number and quality of videos submitted to this year’s challenge. It’s a unique opportunity for youth to have a voice, to inspire their own communities and people across the world by speaking out about issues that affect us all.”
Head to videosforchange.org/vote before Sunday 28 October to vote for your favourite videos for the chance to win one of 20 $100 vouchers from Platypus Shoes.
The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive a $3000 prize of gift vouchers or a donation to the charity of their choice.
Winning videos will have the chance to reach a national audience on Network TEN’s The Project and a share of over $12,000 in prizes.
