FILMFREEWAY OPEN FOR 2021 ENTRIES

FILMFREEWAY IS OPEN FOR ENTRIES  for the 2021 Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest.  This year we will celebrate World Environment Day, with the 2021 screenings on June 4-5 at Broome’s Sun Pictures in Chinatown.  There will be a third screening on June 12, 2021 at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm 200 km north of Broome on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula.  

Filmmakers of any level can enter short films in the Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest.  If your short film is selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest, it may also be screened at a later stage in Broome, the Kimberley region or other fantastic locations. 

Ensure you get talent release forms signed for all talent in your Film because it is respectful and required to enter a film in the Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest! * Please keep a copy of signed talent forms should the Producer request to sight signed form/s.

• First and foremost, HAVE the necessary forms.
• BRING them to every shoot.
• Ask nicely for people to sign and explain how the film will be used.
• Last but not least… try to get forms signed up front!

Read more about release forms 

Below is a link to a Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest talent release form – you can use this form, or better, make your own and brand with your production name.

Mud and Saltwater Talent Request Form »

SHORT FILM CATEGORIES * PRIZES ARE AWARDED FOR THE BEST FILM IN EACH CATEGORY

* Films can be as short as 1 minute, 2 minutes etc, with the limit 5 minutes including credits.
ROEBUCK BAY, (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
1   Drama/Narrative Actors, lights, camera…action
2   Documentary Non-fictional and intended to document some aspect of reality
3   Science With a science edge on any aspect of Roebuck Bay.  
4   Comedy Can your short film make someone laugh?
5   Animation Using any animation technique from claymation to computer generated imagery
6   Music Integrating song and imagery

BROOME (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
7  Broome *About Broome’s natural, cultural or heritage values (any genre)

KIMBERLEY CALLING (WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
8  Kimberley Calling  *About the Kimberley’s natural, cultural or heritage values (any genre)

9  FEATURE FILM *A limit of 10 minutes including credits
Enter a film about any of the above topics. Please note: this category is limited to 3 films only. Please email Producer Pia Boyer to register interest and check whether spots are available.

OTHER PRIZES

10 BEST IN FEST

11 BEST IN FEST BY AN EMERGING FILMMAKER

12 BEST WORLD ENVIROMENT DAY FILM
Encourages worldwide awareness of the exceptional biodiversity of Roebuck Bay, and or Broome, and or the Kimberley, and action for protection of the environment.

13 PEOPLE’S CHOICE

2021 Mud & Saltwater Short Film Fest to Celebrate World Environment Day

Tickets will be available in early 2021 for the two screenings of the Mud and Saltwater on June 4 and 5, 2021 (always books out). The 2021 Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest will celebrate World Environment Day.  As such, filmmakers have the chance to win the much sought after ‘Muddy Award’ for the Best in Fest and Best Film, Best Roebuck Bay Film, Best Kimberley Calling Film and Best Film with a World Environment Day Message.

The oldest outdoor picture theatre, Sun Pictures, will be full of atmosphere for the screenings of the short films about Roebuck Bay, Broome and the Kimberley region, with local filmmakers capturing the stories, culture and landscape of our iconic region and the people that call it home. What is especially unique about the short films, is that they are made by filmmakers who live  and or work in the Kimberley region, providing a unique insight into our way of life, values, sense of humour and talents. 

SHORT FILMS NEED TO FIT ONE OF THE CATEGORIES BELOW: 

 

Thanks to our major sponsors: Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government National Landcare Program, Sobrane Gallery, Cygnet Bay Pearls, Inspiring Australia and Broome Whale Watching. Thanks to our donors Broome Betta Electrical, Broome Bird Observatory, Camera Electronic, Feral Films, Good Cartel, Mark Jones Films, Murranji Photography, Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media, Press Play, Unbound Sound and the University of Notre Dame.

3 Days to Make a 2 Minute Film

Every year, the Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest challenges filmmakerss from across the Kimberley, experienced and inexperienced, to tell a story in 2 minutes.   The judges Paul Bell (Feral Films), Mark Jones (Mark Jones Films) and Neil Turner (PAKAM)  selected ‘Where’s ya bin’ as the Best Overall 2 Minute Short Film and ‘Stay’ the Best Film from an Emerging Filmmaker.  For innovation, for cleverness, for brevity – every film submitted deserves recognition.  The short films were screened at Matso’s on September 6th 2020 to a large enthusiastic audience. Thanks to everyone who made the films and their film crews and thanks for Matsos for hosting the screening, PAKAM for providing the screen and projector, Paul Bell for doing the projection and the judging along with Neil Turner and Mark Jones.  Filmmakers can submit their films in the Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest in early June 2021 and if they wish, can improve them with the feedback from the judges and audience. 

Thanks to the generous sponsors, Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government Landcare Program, Inspiring Australia, Sobrane Gallery, Cygnet Bay Pearls, and Broome Whale Watching.

2 MINUTE FILM IN 3 DAYS 5-7 SEPT 2020

Mud & Saltwater Film Fest judges L to R, Paul Bell (Feral Films), Neil Turner (Pilbara & Kimberley Aboriginal Media) & Mark Jones. Paul, Neil and Mark, professional filmmakers in Broome, will be on hand if  required.

2 MINUTE FILM IN 3 DAYS – 5-7th SEPTEMBER 2020 »

Are you interested in making a 2 Minute Film in 3 Days in early September 2020 with a prize for the Best 2 Minute Film. Filmmakers need to register: info@mudandsaltwater.org.au

Broome filmmaker Paul Bell wins Best Cinematography for Documentary

Paul Bell has won Best Cinematography for a Documentary, well done Paul and your talented supportive family. Best cinematography: Magical Land of Oz (Episode 1 – Oceans) Paul Bell, Dan Proud, Jon Shaw (Oxford Pictures Scientific Films) ABC in the 2019 AAFTA Awards. Fantastic work Paul up against big time professionals!!

Paul Bell from Feral Films in Broome WA, is a judge for the Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest. Over the last decade Paul has worked around the world as a freelance director, cameraman and editor for Lonely Planet TV, National Geographic, Discovery, Eurosport, ABC, SBS and CAAMA Television. Awards include Best International Documentary for Case 442 at the International Cherokee Film Festival in Toronto 2007 and the Best International Short Documentary for Jarlmadangah: Our Dream at the same festival in 2008. Paul’s short documentary, Walking on Country with Spirits (part of the UNU’s Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Change Video Brief Initiative) received the Special Jury Award at the Green Screen International Film Festival in Vancouver, 2011.

Tickets for Mud & Saltwater Premiere Night

Tickets are live – book now and feel the excitement of the 2019 Premiere Night on September 13, 2019 (always books out), with the short films beamed onto the big screen for the first time. Filmmakers will have a chance to win the much sought after ‘Muddy Award’ for the Best in Fest short film, but gosh, there are so many fantastic films this year!

Sun Pictures, the world’s oldest outdoor picture theatre, is the perfect location to screen the short films about Roebuck Bay, Broome and the Kimberley Region. With the Kimberley, rugged scenic and rich in natural heritage ad cultural values, there are plenty of fascinating, and at times hilarious and perilous stories to be relived through films.

Thanks to our major sponsors: Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government National Landcare Program, Sobrane Gallery, Cygnet Bay Pearls, Inspiring Australia and State NRM. Thanks to  our donors Broome Betta Electrical, Big Broome-Haa, Broome Bird Observatory, Broome Whale Watching, Camera Electronic, Fitzgerald Photo, Good Cartel, Murranji Photography, Press Play, Shinju Matsuri, Unbound Sound.

Organiser: Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest

Purchase your tickets here: www.ticketebo.com.au/mudandsaltwater

Tickets for Mud & Saltwater ‘All Films Night’

Judging of 2019 short film entries underway

Judging has commenced for the 2019 Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest entries 🙂 The Film Fest is super lucky to have four exceptional judges – Paul Bell, Mark Jones, Neil Turner and Dr Michael McCall. 

Paul Bell, a Mud & Saltwater Film Fest judge.

Originally from southwest WA, Paul Bell moved to Broome in 1996. He joined David Batty of Rebel Films working throughout the Kimberley on documentary and educational projects. In 2001, Paul was accepted into AFTRS in Sydney to study cinematography in documentary, returning to establish his own production company, Feral Films.

Over the last decade Paul has worked around the world as a freelance director, cameraman and editor for Lonely Planet TV, National Geographic, Discovery, Eurosport, ABC, SBS and CAAMA Television. Highlights include working with the United Nations recording traditional knowledge of climate change with indigenous peoples and travelling to the vast continent of Antarctica.

Awards include Best International Documentary for Case 442 at the International Cherokee Film Festival in Toronto 2007 and the Best International Short Documentary for Jarlmadangah: Our Dream at the same festival in 2008. Paul’s short documentary, Walking on Country with Spirits (part of the UNU’s Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Change Video Brief Initiative) received the Special Jury Award at the Green Screen International Film Festival in Vancouver, 2011.

Mud & Saltwater judge Mark Jones (standing).

At the tender age of 23, Mark Jones had an epiphany when filming with legendary Australian filmmaker, Malcolm Douglas. He realised that he loved the camera and the stories it could tell, and he fell in love with the Kimberley, its ruggedness, its people and deep heritage.

Mark went on to make 17 films with Malcolm in those formative years, and that experience led to opportunities in the adventure, wildlife and ethnographic genres. It has allowed him to explore his 3 great passions, ‘Country’, its original people and the Cultural landscapes produced by the two.

Mark has constantly sought new experiences in the industry to extend his range since those early days with Malcolm. He has shot, Edited, Directed and Written across platforms both individually and in collaboration, with some of the greats of Australian screen including George Negus. It is these relationships and their teachings which Mark holds very dear.

This unorthodox ‘apprenticeship’ is now paying dividends for Mark. He has worked with many production houses around the world (NHK – Japan, ABC – US, BBC etc) to showcase the Kimberley, one of the last great Cultural landscapes, to the big and small screen.

Paul Bell, Neil Turner and Mark Jones judging the 2015 Mud & Saltwater entries (L to R).

Neil Turner has been the manager of Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media (PAKAM) since 1996. Before that he worked on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands for 11 years as Coordinator of Ernabella Video Television and Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Media.

Neil authored the 1998 National Report on the Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme and worked on establishing the Indigenous Community Television and National Indigenous Television services. Neil received the Mr McKenzie Award for his contribution to remote Indigenous television in 2014. Currently serves as Secretary on the Board of ICTV. Neil is also an incredible animator, running workshops with Indigenous people that have resulted in award winning films such as Whirlpool and Killing of the Bilikin Brothers (PAKAM Animation Crew).

Dr Michael McCall, judge of Mud & Saltwater Film Fest.

Dr Michael McCall has worked in a professional capacity as a director, actor, producer, playwright, dramaturg, script editor, arts advocate and educator in stage, screen and arts education in Australia since 2002.

Michael is a graduate of Curtin University, with a Bachelor of Arts (English), and Honours in Performance Studies. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) Acting Course. He has completed a Masters in screen directing and writing at the WA Screen Academy, and has a PhD in Performing Arts from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Michael is currently the Head of Film and Theatre at University of Notre Dame Fremantle, and regularly teaches and directs into the WAAPA Acting and Musical Theatre degrees, along with working for NIDA Open and Bell Shakespeare.

Mud & Saltwater Short Film Fest Sept 13, 14

Thrilling to see lots of short films entered in 2019’s Mud & Saltwater Short Film Fest. A real diversity of films, with quite a few Kimberley locals starring, and the quality is really something! Tickets available soon for Sept 13, 14 screenings at Sun Pictures. Here are a few slicks from last year’s award winning short films.

Thanks to our major sponsors: Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government National Landcare Program, Sobrane Gallery, Cygnet Bay Pearls, Inspiring Australia and State NRM. Thanks to  our donors Broome Betta Electrical, Big Broome-Haa, Broome Bird Observatory, Broome Whale Watching, Camera Electronic, Fitzgerald Photo, Good Cartel, Murranji Photography, Press Play, Shinju Matsuri, Unbound Sound.

MAKE A SHORT FILM WITH AN IPHONE 2

December 15, 2018
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A SHORT FILM WITH AN IPHONE WITH BRAD 2
Due to popular demand, this is the second workshop to help you learn how to make a short film with in iPhone or iPad. Filmmaker Brad Turton makes and edits his films on his iPhone, so he’s the man to teach you with considerable experience in the film industry – including acting, directing and filmmaking.  The Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest wants to help you to get involved in making and improving your films,  so are offering workshops to get you prepared for the 2019 Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest. The short films needs to have links to the natural, cultural and heritage values of Roebuck Bay and Kimberley WA. Check out the films from 2015, 2017 and 2018 and you will get an idea of just how far you can go!  A good motto, is keep them family friendly 🙂
Where   Broome Community Resource Centre, 40 Dampier Terrace, Chinatown
When     December 15, 2018
Free       🙂
Register info@mudandsaltwater.org.au