You can see the list of prizes and prize money for each award at the bottom of the page.
MyState Student Film Festival 2021 - Awards Categories:
Tasmanian Awards
The following award categories are open only to Tasmanian entrants.
Best Film - Age Group Winners
These Awards will go to the overall best film presented in each age-group category.
- Junior Category (Kindergarten to Year 4)
- Intermediate Category (Year 5 to Year 8)
- High School Category (Year 9 to Year 10)
- Post Year 10-University Category
Most Engaging Talent
Lights, Camera …. But what about the action? Recognising this important talent, we award the actor who gives the most engaging and overall best performance on screen in each age-group category.
- Junior Category (Kindergarten to Year 4)
- Intermediate Category (Year 5 to Year 8)
- High School Category (Year 9 to Year 10)
- Post Year 10-University Category
Best Screenplay
All great films begin with a great story. The art of screenwriting is central to filmmaking and so we’ll be awarding a prize to this year’s best original short film screenplay.
Best Animation
Animated films are one of the most popular film genres in the world, and our filmmakers will have the chance to flex their creative muscles and produce an award-winning animated short film.
Best Cinematography
Cinematography is critical to great film-making and encompasses all visual components of the on-screen experience. This award has recently been added to the festival because the judges felt the need to acknowledge the incredible talent being displayed in this area each year.
Best Original Song
Writing a song for a movie can catapult a person into the stratosphere! Think “Let it Go” from Frozen! This award recognises and showcases students’ song writing talents.
Best Original Score
Music composers… here’s your chance to shine. Music scores enhance the scenes of a movie - imagine Star Wars without the dramatic music behind it – or the movie Up, which used music to bring out the emotion of the film.
Best Documentary
It can be said that there is no story more fascinating than real life, so budding documentarians will have the chance to show us how it’s done!
Best Music Video
No longer just four people singing into a camera, the music video is now a compelling art form in its own right—and perfectly suited to a short format film!
Technical Achievement
A filmmaker’s technical knowledge and skills will set their film apart from the competition. The film judged to have the greatest technical achievement in the Festival will take home this coveted award.
The Premier's Award
The Premier of Tasmania personally judges and awards a film that he considers the most inspiring and thought-provoking film of the Festival.
People's Choice Award
Let the people decide! This award will be presented to the Tasmanian film that receives the highest number of online votes from the public.
Regional Awards
Filmmakers entering from NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, WA, NT & ACT are eligible for these major awards.
Best Film - Age Group Winners
These Awards will go to the overall best film presented in each age-group category.
- Junior Category (Kindergarten to Year 4)
- Intermediate Category (Year 5 to Year 8)
- High School Category (Year 9 to Year 10)
- Post Year 10 - University Category
People's Choice Award
Let the people decide! This award will be presented to the regional film that receives the highest number of online votes from the public.
Overall Awards
Best Use of Feature Item
WINDOW. So many interpretations are possible for this year’s feature item. So, our judges will recognise the most ingenious, unexpected, creative or clever way the feature item is represented in this year’s films.
*Films in the Junior, Intermediate and High School categories are eligible for this award.
Jonathan Dawson Most Promising Filmmaker
In Memory of one of the Festival's most well-respected and endearing judges, Jonathan Dawson, this award recognises the filmmaker that demonstrates great potential in filmmaking.
Outstanding Teacher Support
The Outstanding Teacher Support will award a cash prize to one hard working teacher who is judged to have provided exceptional support to their students during the filmmaking process.
2021 Prizes - Tasmanian Entrants
| Award Category: | Prize: | Sponsor: |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film - Junior | $1000 |  |
| Best Film - Intermediate | $1000 | |
| Best Film - High School | $1000 | |
| Best Film - Post Year 10 | $1000 | |
| Best Animation | (TBC) |  |
| Best Screenplay | (TBC) | (TBC) |
| Best Cinematography | $750 Equipment Hire at Wide Angle Tasmania |  |
| Best Original Score | $500 | |
| Best Original Song | $500 | |
| Best Music Video | $500 | |
| Best Documentary | $500 | |
| Technical Achievement | $750 Equipment Hire at Wide Angle Tasmania | |
| People’s Choice Award | $500 |  |
| Premier’s Award | $2000 |  |
| Most engaging talent - Junior | $250 Voucher for Cooper Screen Academy |  |
| Most engaging talent - Intermediate | $250 Voucher for Cooper Screen Academy | |
| Most engaging talent - High School | $250 Voucher for Cooper Screen Academy | |
| Most engaging talent - Post Year 10 | $250 Voucher for Cooper Screen Academy | |
2021 Prizes - Regional Entrants
| Award Category: | Prize: | Sponsor: |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film - Junior | $1000 | |
| Best Film - Intermediate | $1000 | |
| Best Film - High School | $1000 | |
| Best Film - Post Year 10 | $1000 | |
| People’s Choice Award | $500 | |
2021 Prizes - Overall Awards
| Award Category: | Prize: | Sponsor: |
|---|---|---|
| Best Use of Feature Item | $250 | |
| Jonathan Dawson Most Promising Filmmaker | $1000 professional mentoring voucher with AFTRS |  |
| Outstanding Teacher Support | $250 | |