2023 Mud & Salt Film Fest Mangrove Hotel

The Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest, an initiative of the award winning Roebuck Bay Working Group, is supported by major sponsors Mangrove Hotel, Rangelands NRM, National Landcare Program, Sobrane Gallery, Cygnet Bay Pearls and Broome Whale Watching. 

2021 Mud & Saltwater Film Fest Sellout

The packed to the rafters audiences said it all “The Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest is the best run community event I have ever been to!”, “The films just get better and better every year”, “I make sure I never miss the Mud and Saltwater Film Fest – it’s the best event in Broome”, “The Film Fest makes me feel proud to live in the Kimberley”. 👏👏

Thank you to the filmmakers who submitted such wonderful films, to our incredible sponsors, the audiences who kept clapping and cheering, to our lovely volunteers, the judges Mark Jones, Neil Turner, Dr Michael McCall, Paul Bell, Bart Pigram for being a legend of MC, Abby Murray Photography for the great photos and to the Director Kandy Curran and Producer Pia Boyer who do such outstanding work to make it all happen.

“How to make Saltfish” by Paul Bell & Stephen Pigram dual winner of 2021 Best in Fest

THE 2021 CATEGORY WINNERS:

Roebuck Bay-Comedy Where’s ya bin? by Leon Kelly, Mark Fogliani
Roebuck Bay-Drama/Narrative The Cave by Paul Zanetti
Roebuck Bay- Animation Lily the Lonely Dinosaur by Alby Bell, Paul Bell
Roebuck Bay-Documentary Wing Threads: Flight around Oz by Milly Formby, Michael Portway
Roebuck Bay-Science Molly’s Wild World – Humpbacks by Molly Bell, Paul Bell
Roebuck Bay-Music Underground by Miles Brotherson, Adele Oliver, Mick & Bart Pigram, Environs Kimberley

Gaarragoon Guardians – A Bardi Jawi Ranger story by Bardi Jawi rangers, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Western Australian Marine Science Institution and Sam Frederick Films won best 2021 film in Kimberley Calling.

Kimberley Calling: Gaarragoon Guardians – A Bardi Jawi Rangers’ Story by Bardi Jawi Rangers, The Australian Institute of Marine Science, The Western Australian Marine Science Institution, Sam Frederick

Broome: Stay by Trish Pepper, Yindi Newman

Feature Film: “How to Make Saltfish” by Paul Bell

Best in Fest: Wilimirimiri by Mervyn Street, Mangkaja Arts, Bernadette Trench-Thiedeman

Thank you to the major sponsors: Rangelands NRM with support from the Federal Government National Landcare Program, Inspiring Australia, Gallery Sobrane, Cygnet Bay Pearls, Yane Sotiroski Photography, Camera Electronic and Broome Whale Watching.

Mud & Saltwater Premiere Tickets

Tickets are available for the two screenings of the Mud and Saltwater Film Fest 4-5 June 2021 (always sell out). Enjoy a celebration of Roebuck Bay, Broome and Kimberley WA through short films and features. Stories are at the heart of the Mud and Saltwater Film Fest and we aim to showcase this remarkable part of the world through the eyes of inspired filmmakers. 

Get Tickets Here

June 4th Premiere Short Films, Features, Awards  The Premiere has a real buzz, with local filmmakers seeing the films they entered in the 2021 Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest on Sun Picture’s big screen for the first time. To add to the pizazz, the winning films will be announced after the last film is screened. The grassroots Mud and Saltwater Film Fest Premiere, will screen 21 entertaining film shot around Broome, Roebuck Bay, the Dampier Peninsula and rugged Kimberley region.  

Mud and Saltwater 2021 Program & Tickets

Get Tickets Here

June 5th 2021 Mud and Saltwater ‘Short Films-Features-Winners’ night. Another fantastic night, showing all the short film and feature entries plus a bonus feature On My Father’s Country by Mitch Torres, Nagarra Nagarra Films, Vince Carter, Mark Jones, Jedda Rae Hill (22 films in total). The film is fantastic as are all the entries this year. 

Thanks to major sponsors: Rangelands NRM, National Landcare Program, Sobrane Gallery, Cygnet Bay Pearls, Inspiring Australia, Yane Sotiroski Photography and Broome Whale Watching. Thanks to donors Broome Betta Electrical, Broome Bird Observatory, Broome Fringe Festival, Camera Electronic, Feral Films, Good Cartel, Kimberley Kolors, Mark Jones Films, Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media, Press Play, Reef Chief Australia, Sun Pictures.

Tickets for 2021 Mud & Saltwater Film Fest

Tickets are available for purchase for the 2021 Mud & Saltwater Short Film Fest ‘Premiere’ on June 4th and ‘Award Winning Short Films & Features’ on June 5th.  

Get Tickets Here

The films screened at Sun Pictures in Broome on World Environment Day will celebrate Roebuck Bay, Broome & the Kimberley region – areas of high planetary biodiversity. There will be a third screening on June 12 at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm on the Dampier Peninsula. Super exciting to see the entries coming in, with the quality great and some awesome Kimberley talent in the short films!

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

Film Freeway 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

World Environment Day Screening

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

Paul Bell wins Best Cinematography

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.