Screen It 2012

Screen It 2012

Registrations are now open for Screen It 2012, the national competition for school-aged filmmakers and game makers run annually by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).

This year's theme, -Belonging', provides a valuable trigger for students and teachers to investigate topical issues while learning game and filmmaking techniques along the way.
Registration is completely free and can be made online.

The competition is open to anyone enrolled in primary or secondary education. Students can enter through their school or independently. Entries can be live-action films, computer games or animations, but must incorporate the theme.

ACMI's Screen Education Manager, Christine Evely, says that the competition is fostering both creativity and responsible citizens.
'ACMI continues to encourage and support a new generation of young game and filmmakers who are caring and respectful citizens through Screen It. Once again, the theme connects with topics being investigated by Australian students, assisting them in understanding and critiquing things they experience or issues reported by mainstream media."

Students may choose to explore belonging as it relates to family, cultural groups, community (such as at school, in sporting teams or online), country and even personal identity. Entries may also look at how a lack of belonging or connectedness affects the wellbeing of individuals and society.

'By encouraging students to understand ideas of belonging and inclusiveness, we are equipping a generation of young Australians for thoughtful, caring and confident futures," said Christine.

Unlike other student film competitions, Screen It is designed to provide rich cross-disciplinary educational outcomes for participants. Teachers registering their students are encouraged to download the Education Resources written by ACMI's team of experienced educators to assist with developing the theme. ACMI's online education tool, Generator (generator.acmi.net.au), can guide teachers through the production process.

Judged by a panel of industry experts, winners will be presented at an awards ceremony in December, each receiving a certificate, a trophy and a DVD prize pack courtesy of Madman Entertainment. The primary and secondary school with the Best Overall Entries will each be awarded a state-of-the-art Mitsubishi projector for their school. In addition, the winning entries will be added to the library of the Australian Mediatheque where visitors to ACMI can view moving image works on demand, as well as being exhibited on the ACMI website.

The 2011 Screen It competition attracted the highest number of entries in the competition's history with 499 entries submitted by over 1456 students nationwide.
Entries for the 2012 competition close on Friday 14 September.

Students and teachers from across Australia can register online now: www.acmi.net.au/screenit
A frequently asked questions page has been set up to assist students and teachers. Please visit: www.acmi.net.au/screen_it_faq.htm