Bringing the best of Australian
filmmaking to regional Victoria.
filmmaking to regional Victoria.
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.
live screening
Poco's live screening is held once every 2 years in the majestic Palace Regent Cinemas, Cinema One.
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)
Sam Chiplin (Acclaimed Cinematographer)
Steve Bastoni (Film Festivals Australia)
Glendyn Ivin (Film director)
Myf Warhurst (Austalian TV personality)
Mark Molloy (Australian feature film director)
Tracey Rigney (filmmaker / playwright)
Alexei Toliopoulos (Writer / filmmaker / comedian / podcaster / film critic)
Sam Chiplin (Acclaimed Cinematographer)
Steve Bastoni (Film Festivals Australia)
Glendyn Ivin (Film director)
Myf Warhurst (Austalian TV personality)
and popcorn
Choc Tops too.
Poco Talks is an exciting initiative connecting regional Victorians with leaders in the Australian film industry.
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 is the next Poco Film Fest live screening?
Poco's live screening will be held in 2028. Date TBC.
002
002
When do entries open for Poco 2028?
Entries will open in 2027. Dates TBC.
004
004
How can I get involved in the next festival?
You can read more by following the link here.
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