From screen to spotlight: winners from the 2023 Ipswich Film Festival For Youth
17 October 2023
Budding Greta Gerwigs and Steven Spielbergs were recognised on the weekend at the 2023 Ipswich Film Festival for Youth (IFFY) screening and awards event.
Winning entries were sent from as far as Western Australia and Tasmania, but four entries from Ipswich locals also managed to catch the judges’ eyes, with Charlie Richter, Maia Weatherstone, Sophia and Louie Tenace and Rowan Manuel winning awards.
Ipswich City Council Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Fechner said the standard of films was exceptional.
“This year we received 101 entries, with the many high-quality films seeing tremendously close scoring from our five film industry judges,” Cr Fechner said.
“It’s wonderful to celebrate youth talent from around Australia and fantastic to see and support terrific films from budding local filmmakers.
“The festival is part of council’s ongoing commitment to supporting arts and culture in Ipswich and I look forward to next year’s IFFY entries.”
Judges were Sarah Dinsey, Bob Blasdall, Kim Huynh, Felicity Kranz and Moria Drake.
The winners were as follows.
In the 7 to 11 years category:
General Submission winner was Into the Wild by Sophia Tenace and Louie Tenace
LOLs Award (Best Comedy) winner was So One Day I Did by Charlie Richter
Parody winner (tied) was A Pixely Picnic by Saalih Deen
Parody winner (tied) was The Epic Defeat by Rowan Theodore Manuel
Best Overall winner was So One Day I Did by Charlie Richter
In the 12 to 17 years category:
General Submission winner was The Existential Overwhelm of a Conversational Catalyst by Noah Bailey
Best Documentary winner was Riding Against Time by Maia Weatherstone
Best Animation/Stop Motion was Written in the Stars by Alyssa Caitlin Edith Loughman
Best Music Video was HighAway FlyAway by Enes Guven
Best Overall was Riding Against Time by Maia Weatherstone
In the 18 to 25 years category:
General Submission winner was A Better Life by Yael Green
Best Documentary winner was An Aberration in Eternity by Hayden Mouat
Best Animation/Stop Motion was Moss by Carmel Gorfine
Best Music Video was Siena Rebelo - Money Man by Liam Vaclav Cervenka and Juno Shean
Best Overall was Moss by Carmel Gorfine
IFFY winner Charlie Richter, 9, from Ipswich, said it was a really good opportunity because she had never made a movie before.
“When it first came up on the big screen in front of everyone I was a bit embarrassed, but by the end I thought it was pretty good because everyone was laughing,” Ms Richter said.
Bob Blasdall said Riding Against Time was incredible.
“Wow, what an incredibly well thought out and professionally put together video, this is one of the best student mindocs I have seen,” Mr Blasdall said.
Felicity Kranz commended So One Day I Did.
“Wow! This was so fun and enjoyable to watch. Great storyline, definitely a LOL! Loved the transitions between present day and the flashbacks. Excellent acting, too, from everybody in the family, including Fluffy!” Ms Franz said.
The screening and awards event was held in Tulmur Place on Saturday, 14 October.
For more details, visit Ipswich Film Festival For Youth (IFFY)