Bringing the best of Australian
filmmaking to Regional Victoria.
filmmaking to Regional Victoria.
Bringing the best of
Australian filmmaking
to Regional Victoria.
Australian filmmaking
to Regional Victoria.
Poco is a biennial festival with entries open to filmmakers and animators from all over the country. Our goal is to foster new and emerging talent and build a community for creative minds to share, collaborate and inspire.
Our Story
Our STory
returning 2O24
AUG 02
AUG 03
Entries across any genre are accepted including documentary, music videos, comedy, drama, horror, animation, sci-fi and more. Awards for Best Short, Jury Prize and Best Student Film will be presented at Poco's live screening August 3rd, 2024.
$12k worth of prizes
SAE Best Short Film: $8,000
Jury Prize: $1000, a DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, and DaVinci Resolve Studio
Best Student Film: $3,000
Audience Choice Award: $250 Lemac gift card
Best Emerging Talent Award: $250 Lemac gift card
Jury Prize: $1000, a DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, and DaVinci Resolve Studio
Best Student Film: $3,000
Audience Choice Award: $250 Lemac gift card
Best Emerging Talent Award: $250 Lemac gift card
live screening
All finalist films will be screened at the iconic Regent Cinema in Ballarat. Known for its striking Classical Moderne style dating back to 1927, the cinema is made popular for its impressive 700+ seat Cinema One, one of the largest in regional Victoria.
acclaimed judges
Mark Molloy (Australian feature film director), Tracey Rigney (filmmaker / playwright), Alexei Toliopoulos (Writer / filmmaker / comedian / podcaster / film critic).
and popcorn
Choc Tops too.
Entries across any genre are accepted including documentary, music videos, comedy, drama, horror, animation, sci-fi and more. Awards for Best Short, Jury Prize and Best Student Film will be presented at Poco's live screening August 3rd, 2024.
live screening
Watch up 15 of Australia's best short films for one night only, including documentaries, comedy, drama, horror, animation and more!
Learn more
Learn more
Industry talks
Introducing Poco Talks! An intimate experience where you can hear from some of the best Australian talent talk about their success both in Australia and beyond our shores live on stage!
acclaimed judges
Mark Molloy (Australian feature film director)
Tracey Rigney (filmmaker / playwright)
Alexei Toliopoulos (Writer / filmmaker / comedian / podcaster / film critic)
Tracey Rigney (filmmaker / playwright)
Alexei Toliopoulos (Writer / filmmaker / comedian / podcaster / film critic)
and popcorn
Choc Tops too.
Poco's panel of expert judges is carefully chosen to embody the festival's commitment to nurturing exceptional Australian cinema and its creators. Each submission will undergo evaluation from an industry perspective, with emphasis on direction, narrative, performance, and cinematography.
PURCHASE TICKETS
PURCHASE TICKETS
2O24 judges
001
MARK MOLLOY
Hailing from Ballarat and now based in LA, Mark is an award-winning Australian director who recently directed “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024) for Netflix and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, starring Eddie Murphy, Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon Levitt.
Molloy is also known for his short film series “Apple at Work - The Underdogs,” which has received over 150 million views worldwide and earned him a nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials at the 72nd Directors Guild of America Awards.
Molloy is also known for his short film series “Apple at Work - The Underdogs,” which has received over 150 million views worldwide and earned him a nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials at the 72nd Directors Guild of America Awards.
002
Tracey Rigney
Tracey Rigney, a Wotjobaluk and Ngarrindjeri woman from Victoria, is a prolific filmmaker and playwright. She wrote and directed "Rebel Art" for the 2022 Sydney Film Festival. Her credits include directing shorts like "Man Real" and "Abalone," as well as screenwriting for projects such as "Elders" and "The Warriors" TV series.
Rigney has also contributed to theater with plays like "Belonging" and "How Blak R U?". In 2022, she wrote two plays for young audiences: 'Rella' and 'Someone in the Dark'.
Rigney has also contributed to theater with plays like "Belonging" and "How Blak R U?". In 2022, she wrote two plays for young audiences: 'Rella' and 'Someone in the Dark'.
003
Alexei Toliopoulos
Alexei Toliopoulos is a versatile writer, filmmaker, comedian, podcaster, and film critic.
Known for creating the popular "Finding" series with Cameron James, he's made appearances on TV shows like ABC's "Question Everything" and "The Weekly."
As a passionate film enthusiast, he's respected for his criticism and moderating skills. Currently, he's working on a new comedy docu-series with James.
Known for creating the popular "Finding" series with Cameron James, he's made appearances on TV shows like ABC's "Question Everything" and "The Weekly."
As a passionate film enthusiast, he's respected for his criticism and moderating skills. Currently, he's working on a new comedy docu-series with James.
Questions
001
001
When is the live screening?
Poco 2024 is Saturday August 3rd at 7pm.
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002
When is Poco Talks?
Poco Talks is Friday August 2nd at 2pm.
003
003
Will all entries be screened at the event?
No - Poco will make the pre-selection of films to be screened at the event.
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004
When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced August 3, 2024.
005
005
Where can I purchase tickets?
Tickets can be purchased here for the screening and Poco Talks.
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006
Is the content suitable for all audiences?
All short films included in the program have not been rated and themes such as violence, nudity, coarse language, and horror may be present. The screening is recommended for mature audiences only.
