Gold Coast high school students are aiming for their big-screen break at BUFTA - the Bond University Film and Television Awards - on Saturday, November 23.
Queensland and Gold Coast entries dominate the 27 finalists, with 10 hailing from Gold Coast schools, the most nominees the city has had in a decade.
With the announcement of a new Hollywood production centre being built on the Gold Coast, the film industry in South East Queensland is booming.
For Year 12 Emmanuel College student Ryan Cruickshank, the stars seem to be aligning for a career in film and television.
“You see on the news just how many movies and shows are filming on the Gold Coast and Brisbane now,” he said.
“I’ve even done some work as an extra for productions being shot on the Gold Coast.
“It’s very, very exciting and hopefully I get to be a part of it one day.”
The winner of BUFTA receives full scholarship to study the Bachelor of Film and Television at Bond University.
Dr Darren Paul Fisher, Head of Film, Screen & Creative Media at Bond University, said young film buffs would have access to the Hollywood talent pipeline.
“Over the last 10 years the Gold Coast has developed into a truly global production hub for the screen industry, and it’s only going to gain momentum in the next decade,” Dr Fisher said.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in the screen industry, full of opportunities that I’m sure the next generation is going to take full advantage of.
“I can’t wait to see what stories they tell us.”
For the first time, Bond University is hosting a film festival as part of BUFTA.
The BUFTA Film Festival on Friday, November 22 is open to the public from 4pm and will showcase all 27 student films.