Film making dreams come true for two

17 Jul 2009

MEDIA RELEASE: 17 July 2009

The Transport Accident Commission has announced the two winners of the 2009 Make a Film, Make a Difference (MAFMAD) competition.

25 year old Brunswick university student Bill Irving and 19 year old Carmen Knox, from Hampton East, have won the chance to turn their ideas into a short film.

TAC Senior Marketing Manager John Thompson said the two were chosen from 9 finalists and more than 300 entries to turn their concepts into short films.

"Entrants were asked to submit a short film concept that will challenge young people’s attitudes towards risk taking and looking out for their mates on the road," Mr Thompson said.

"Bill and Carmen will now get the chance to work with respected film industry mentors as they prepare their ideas for the big screen," Mr Thompson said.

Bill Irving’s synopsis looks at the evolution of mateship from prehistoric times to the present day. Bill is studying screenwriting at RMIT University.

Carmen Knox, a Monash University scriptwriter, has based her film on the behaviour of young men and mateship in a military environment.

Mr Thompson said the two winners would also receive a $20,000 production budget and $5,000 prize money.

"The winning films will be screened at cinemas and online across the state during the summer and at youth events like the Big Day Out."

"Of the 2009 entries, the youngest entrant was 14 years old, one entrant submitted 11 ideas and most of the entries were from males," Mr Thompson said.

Mr Thompson thanked the high calibre panel of judges, including actor Angus Sampson, St Kilda Film Festival director Adele Denison, Mushroom Marketing’s Managing Director Carl Gardiner and Mike Reed from production company MRPPP along with representatives from the TAC, Grey and Mitchells.

"MAFMAD has produced 13 films over the past 6 years, each with a unique approach to the competition brief," Mr Thompson said.

Find out more at www.mafmad.com.au.