Page 27 - Port Douglas Magazine 41

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.