Melbourne filmmaker drives home road safety message

Published date: 02 Jul 2018

A Melbourne film student will see his work on the big screen after winning the inaugural Split Second film competition.

Third-year Swinburne University student Callum Borthwick’s film ‘Gates of Heaven’ was announced as the winner of the film competition focused on sending road safety messages to young drivers.

The Transport Accident Commission has partnered with the Melbourne International Film Festival to present the first Split Second youth film competition.

The competition was hotly contested with a total of 78 entrants vying for the $50,000 production budget on offer.

TAC’s Engagement Senior Manager Meg Jacobs said the competition attracted high calibre entries from across the state.

“The response from Victoria’s young creatives to the Split Second film competition was fantastic and we’re looking forward to seeing Callum’s finished film,” Ms Jacobs said.

“Callum’s film will make audiences think twice about using phones while driving and the consequences of driving while distracted,” she said.

The competition challenged Victorians between the ages of 18 and 25 to put forward a plan for a 45-second film that highlighted the theme “the problem is in our hands”.

Work is already underway to bring the film to life as Callum works alongside award-winning production company Positive Ape.

Callum will also receive $5000 in prize money and his film will feature during 500 MIFF screenings in Melbourne and regional Victoria.

This year’s Melbourne International Film Festival starts on August 2 and finishes on August 19.

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