If you would like to inquire about sponsoring contact Ms Smith via you would like to find out more visit The organising committee was also on the lookout for businesses to come on board as sponsors of either the whole festival, or of individual categories. вЂњThat is the idea, which may change as plans are finalised,вЂќ Ms Smith said. The committee was hoping to host the festival at the Benalla Performing Arts and Convention Centre on Sunday, November 6, from 3pm to coincide with the Benalla Festival. вЂњAnd I am waiting to find out if Krista is able to return.вЂќ вЂњI have heard from John and Tony and they have confirmed,вЂќ she said. Those being Krista Vendy ( Neighbours), John Orcsik ( Cop Shop) and Tony Bonner ( Skippy the Bush Kangaroo). Ms Smith said she was hoping all three judges from last year return. вЂњWe have also added a new category this year, Best International Film.вЂќ вЂњWe have a few categories including best film, best student film, the local encouragement award, best documentary, the peoplesвЂ™ choice award - voted on by the people who come to see the films, and best performance. вЂњAll you need is a really good story, and the shorter the better.

вЂњPeople can make a film on an iPhone nowadays,вЂ™вЂ™ she said. However, having entered before was not a requirement and Ms Smith was looking forward to seeing debut films by new directors. вЂњWe hope he enters again this year, as we get a lot of repeat film makers.вЂќ вЂњLast yearвЂ™s local encouragement award was won by Cobram film maker Lachie Allemand for The Sisterhood of Mika and Sophie.

вЂњAnd he entered again in 2021 and won Best Film for The Devil and I. вЂњBenalla film maker Charles Williams won the local encouragement award in 2020.

Ms Smith said the award was a great stepping stone to taking out the top prize. вЂњOur local encouragement award is open to any film maker within 100km of Benalla.вЂќ вЂњBut we are hoping for lots of local entries,вЂќ Ms Smith said.

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