Captain Afraid of Everything
Directed by Michael Meredith

End of the Line
Directed by Paul Misbrener

I Promise You
Directed by Blake Phillips & Jenna Eriksen

Observation
Rob Leggo

One Night
Abhinav Gaaba

Rage of Justice
Toby Morris & Nicholas P. Alpin

Road Runner
Kiah Roache-Turner

Shared Living
Eduardo Garcia

The Rub of the Green
Kurt Sorensen

Toilet Paper
Christina Radburn

You Can't Teach an Old Zombie New Tricks
Sascha Gloorn, Sam French, Lachlan Kelaher

Now in its third year, the Commonwealth Bank Reel Deal Short Film Festival has been developed to identify, nurture and assist Australia’s film makers of the future. And anyone can enter! It is a grassroots event where filmmakers, students and enthusiasts alike can all compete on a level playing field. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned professional or a first timer, everyone is welcome to participate in the Reel Deal Short Film Festival, and above all, have fun!

There’s over $20,000 in cash and prizes to be won again this year, including the Bryan Brown Film Scholarship, valued at over $5,000.

The criteria for 2008 is a little different from previous years. This year films will have the choice of an urban or outback location. Each film will need to incorporate at least one scene shot, on location in either Bankstown or Broken Hill.

Filmmakers will also have to incorporate a specified item or topic in their film in some way. This item or topic however will not dictate the storyline or theme of any film and entrants can develop and produce the storyline and genre of their choice. Animation entries whilst obviously not bound by the location criteria, will need to incorporate the same item or topic in their work.

The theme for 2008 will be divulged on Friday April 4. From that date, all film makers will also be given 12 weeks to develop and produce their films.

We hope this revised criteria will allow for an even great creative freedom for film makers in both content and location and we continue to see the quality and quantity of entrants grow.

Bryan Brown is the Patron of The Real Deal Short Film Festival.

On Friday April 4, the 2008 Brief, detailing this years item or topic will be released. Information will be available on this website as well as in person from Revesby Workers Club.

Filmmakers have up to 12 weeks to script, shoot, craft and edit their films which must be no longer than 7 minutes duration, including titles and credits.

Animation entries whilst incorporating the same item or topic, must be 2 minutes or more in duration, including credits and titles.

Registrations commence from 9.30am, Friday April 4, 2008. You can download the registration forms together with the brief sheet from the Reel Deal website, or collect them in person from Revesby Workers’ Club at any time from these dates.

All entry forms and release forms can be downloaded for the Reel Deal Website. It’s a good idea to download your forms early and have them completed before submitting final registration forms.

All entry/registration forms must be submitted, together with a registration fee at Revesby Workers’ Club, 2B Brett Street, Revesby NSW 2212 before 5pm Monday 16 June, 2008.

Entry fee is $30 per film and must be paid at time of registration. This covers insurances and public liability.

All films, both animation and general entries, must be completed and either posted or handed in at Revesby Workers’ Club by 5pm Monday, June 30, 2008.

All finalist films will be shown at a public screening on Sunday July 13, 2008, which will take place at Revesby Workers’ Club. Patrons will be invited to vote for their favourite film at this screening to determine the People’s Choice Award.

All winners will be announced at the official Awards ceremony on Saturday August 2, 2008.

The major prize, valued at $5,000 and provided by Revesby Workers’ Club, is the Bryan Brown Film Scholarship for the most outstanding achievement in any discipline. The scholarship winner can select any relevant film course conducted by AFTRS, the University of Western Sydney or any other recognized film school in Australia, to further their chosen field of expertise. Participants must nominate on their entry form, whether they wish to be considered for this prize.

There is also a $5,000 cash prize for Best Film, sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank.

$1,000 cash prizes will be awarded in all other categories.

There are a few new developments for this year’s festival. Basically, film makers will only have two requirements for their entries this year. Films will have to use either Bankstown or Broken Hill as a location and they will have to incorporate just one specific item or theme which will be divulged via a brief on April 4. Animation entries will have to use the same theme or item.

Film makers will also be given 3 months to develop and produce their films instead of the usual 4 weeks.

We hope the new revised criteria will allow for an even great creative freedom for film makers in both content and location and we continue to see the quality and quantity of entrants grow.

“Text Me”, Reel Deal’s 2007 Best Film and scholarship winner, was accepted into this years international Flickerfest event and a 2006 acting entrant has just completed a film in the USA with Robert De Nero and Dustin Hoffman. Just a couple of examples of the success of the event in fostering new talent.

You’ll also notice that 2008 Commonwealth Bank Reel Deal Short Film Festival has a revamped website. Come back soon for more news and developments!