Page 26 - Port Douglas Magazine 41
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major events.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 October 18-19


                                                                                                                                                                                       Curry explains both he and his good friend Hearn were hooked on Port Shorts
                                                                                                                                                                                       from the first moments they became involved in the festival 10 years ago.

                                                                                                                                                                                       “When Hearny and I were first invited to be judges and Ambassadors for Port

                                                                                                                                                                                       Shorts in 2014 it was a no-brainer to come up and enjoy the festivities in such a
          sTArs coME ouT                                                                                                                                                               tropical paradise,” Curry said.
                                                                                                                                                                                       “But we learned very quickly the Port Shorts crew had the same passion for
          for fIlM fEsTIvAl                                                                                                                                                            sharing our  knowledge  and experiences  to inspire  the next  generation of

                                                                                                                                                                                       filmmakers and storytellers as we did.
                                                                                                                                                                                       “Combined with the genuine love and connection the local community has with
                                                                                                                                                                                       the festival and the fact it is held in such a spectacular location makes Port
                                                                                                                                                                                       Shorts truly unique and without a doubt one of the best short film festivals on

                                                                                                                                                                                       the planet in terms of overall experience.”
                                                                                                                                                                                       Port Shorts will be returning to its roots in 2024 on Friday October 18 with the
                                                                                                                                                                                       Port Shorts Young Filmmakers Awards to be held in the historic Clink Theatre,

                                                                                                                                                                                       where the first Port Shorts Film Festival was held back in 2000, celebrating the
                                                                                                                                                                                       best young filmmakers from around Australia with a special screening of finalist


                                                                                                                                                                                       films.

                                                                                                                                                                                       The spotlight then turns to nearby Rex Smeal Park on Saturday October 19 for
                                                                                                                                                                                       the main event when Curry will take to the microphone to host the screening of
                                                                                                                                                                                       the finalist films for Port Shorts Music Video, Drone, Local and Open categories


                                                                                                                                                                                       at the 2024 Port Shorts Film Festival.
                                                                                                                                                                                       Port Shorts will also host a series of free workshops and events conducted by
                                                                                                                                                                                       screen industry experts in the week leading up to the festival, with up to 100
                                                                                                                                                                                       delegates from around the country also participating in Australian Teachers Of
                                                                                                                                                                                       Media (ATOM) annual conference being held in Port Douglas to coincide with the
                                                                                                                                                                                       festival in 2024.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     Tickets to the 2024 Port Shorts Film Festival
                                                                                                                                                                                             and more information on lead-up events and workshops
                                                                                                                                                                                                   will be available on portshorts.com from June 1














          WORDS by Greg McLean

                HE COOLEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL in the tropics will roll   “When we started  Port Shorts,  it was all about capturing  and
                out the world’s most jaw-dropping red carpet this October   celebrating the local people and places in a fun and accessible way,”
                where the stars above twinkle as brightly as the ones on   Sammi says.                                                            “the genuine love and
         Tthe big screen.                                       “We would all be running around filming our own stories on Super-8                connection the local

          Port Shorts Film Festival started in 2000 as a fun project inviting local   cameras in the months leading up to Port Shorts, then we’d catch up
          amateur filmmakers to share their stories showcasing the people and   and invite the community to join us as we all had a good laugh and a   community has with


          places around Port Douglas on Super-8 film.           few drinks watching them together on the big screen.                                 the festival and the
          Fast-forward 24  years and Port  Shorts  has grown to become one   “Now we’re still doing that, only we’ve invited the whole world to join
          of Far North Queensland’s favourite festivals projecting some of the   us either as filmmakers or part of the audience.”               fact it is held in such a

          best short films from our own backyard and around the world from   To reinforce this, the 2024 Port Shorts Virtual Film Festival will stream   spectacular location

          one of the most amazing festival locations on the planet.  the best short films to a global audience for those who can’t make it

          Now held in the idyllic surrounds of Rex Smeal Park in the heart of   to Port Douglas for the cinematic extravaganza under the palm trees   makes port shorts truly
          Port Douglas with the majestic Coral Sea and breathtaking Daintree   on October 19.                                                      unique and without a
          Rainforest providing the perfect backdrop, Port Shorts brings some   Ambassadors Stephen Curry and Matt Hearn have been an integral
          of the biggest names in Australian cinema to the tropics.  part of Port Shorts since it relaunched as a national festival in 2015        doubt one of the best
          Long-time  festival supporters  Stephen Curry,  one of Australia’s   and not only visit each year to judge and host the event but provide   short film festivals on
          most-loved actors, and Matt Hearn, producer of Aussie cult classics   inspiration  and  opportunities  to  participating  filmmakers  through   the planet in terms of

          Wolf Creek and Rogue, will be joined as Port Shorts Ambassadors   their year-round involvement.
          by acclaimed actor  and proud Wangnurri  woman Rarriwuy  Hick   Several  local  emerging  filmmakers  have  received  an  incredible       overall experience.”

          when the curtain comes up on the 2024 Port Shorts Film Festival on   kickstart to their careers working with Hearn and his production
          Saturday October 19.                                  company Hotglue in Melbourne as a result of entering a short film

          Port Shorts Film Festival  co-founder  and  creative  director Sammi   in  Port  Shorts,  with the Ambassadors  also becoming  mentors                - sTEpHEn curry


          Gowthorp said it was amazing to see how the festival has grown from   and  collaborators  for  Port  Shorts  finalist  filmmakers  from  around   porT sHorTs AMbAssAdor
          such humble beginnings.                               Australia.
         28   Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner
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