Bringing the best of Australian
filmmaking to regional Victoria,
Aug 1 & 2
filmmaking to regional Victoria,
Aug 1 & 2
Bringing the best of
Australian filmmaking
to regional Victoria,
Aug 1 & 2.
Australian filmmaking
to regional Victoria,
Aug 1 & 2.
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
shorts in winter
AUG 04
SEP 04
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 1st, 2026.
live screening
Watch up 15 of Australia's best short films for one night only, including documentaries, comedy, drama, horror, animation and more!
Industry talks
Poco Talks is 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
Past judges include:
Mark Molloy (Australian feature film director)
Tracey Rigney (filmmaker / playwright)
Alexei Toliopoulos (Writer / filmmaker / comedian / podcaster / film critic)
Mark Molloy (Australian feature film director)
Tracey Rigney (filmmaker / playwright)
Alexei Toliopoulos (Writer / filmmaker / comedian / podcaster / film critic)
and popcorn
Choc Tops too.
Poco Talks is an exciting initiative connecting regional Victorians with leaders in the Australian film industry. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from the best in the business.
Poco talks
001
Steve Bastoni & Meg Pascoe
Film Festivals Australia produces three annual film festivals in Australia: Peninsula Film Festival in Rosebud Victoria, The Perfect Light Film Festival in Broken Hill, NSW and Outback by the Sea Film Festival in Karumba, QLD.
Steve and Meg are advocates for screening Australian stories with a focus on regional, outer-metro established/emerging filmmakers.
Steve and Meg are advocates for screening Australian stories with a focus on regional, outer-metro established/emerging filmmakers.
002
Tracey Rigney
Tracey is an award-winning filmmaker and playwright. A Wotjobaluk and Ngarrindjeri woman. Tracey’s impressive body of work includes We Are Still Here, Elders, Endangered, Abalone, Man Real and she currently has two films in post-production. Tracey is a co-founder of Pink Lake Creative.
003
Diana Glenn
Diana Glenn has worked in the TV and film industry for close to 30 years. Among her many appearances, she has starred in “The Slap,” for which she won an AACTA award, and more recently in “Bad Behaviour,” “In Our Blood,” and “Harrow.” In recent years, Diana has expanded her talents into producing and writing and has also just completed her Master’s in Business at AFTRS.
004
Sam Chiplin
Sam is an Australian Cinematographer known for feature films; The Stranger (2022), The Narrow Road to the Deep North (2025), The Bends (2021) and the TV series The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart (2023).
Questions
001
001
When will Poco return?
Poco is a biennial festival. Poco's 2026 live event will be held August 1st.
002
002
Where is Poco's live screening event?
Poco's live screening event will be held at the Palace Regent Cinema Ballarat, Cinema One.
003
003
Where can I buy tickets to the live screening event?
Tickets to Poco's short film live screening and Poco Talks industry event can be purchased here.
004
004
How can I get involved in the festival?
You can read more by following the link here.
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