Lights! Canberra! Action! 2026xx entries completed in the 10 days leading to 10 hours of judging and difficult decisions.
2026 Top Twelve Gala Screening and Awards
Friday 6th March 2026, 7 for 8pm start. Under 18s with an adult. Check the full listing for each film for content information. 2026 THEME
Curiosity Top Twelve 2026In Screening Order. Content 'Rating' is indicative only. These films have not been classified.
Filmmaker Bio: Tia (Director): Tia Jade is a 26-year-old Dharug woman based in Canberra. She has directed small projects for work, but this is her debut in LCA. Tia says, “I enjoy directing because you get to see how a story fits together from every possible angle.”Emma (Producer): Emma Macintyre is a Canberra-based producer debuting with A Stitch Up In Time. She earned a Bachelor of Media Arts and Production from the University of Canberra in 2015. With experience as a production assistant, most recently on Echos by Ash Grey, she brings a background in digital content creation to this project.
Filmmaker Bio: Liam is a long time film maker, having started making films since before the age of 10. He hopes that he has gotten better since then...
Caitlin moved to Canberra in 2022 at the same time she started her journey in acting. Last year was her first time entering into the crew side of film making, with her first LCA film in 2024 making top 12.
Filmmaker bio: Mia Channing is a 19 year old aspiring documentary filmmaker. She is moved by, and has a passion for exploring the human experience by telling stories of real-life people and their journeys. Mia believes documentaries are a powerful way for people to connect. Mia recently graduated CIT with a Diploma in Screen and Media. She has been a finalist in the Canberra Short Film Festival in the Student Category in 2023 and 2024. As an aspiring filmmaker, Mia shoots her films on her iPhone 13.
Filmmaker Bio: Jack Downie, Jack Ellis, Ruby Taylor, and Jenny Lin are a creative quartet blending surreal storytelling, striking visuals, and rich symbolism. With introspective direction, atmospheric cinematography, and poetic writing, they craft immersive, thought-provoking films that explore memory, identity, and time.
Filmmaker Bio: Lil Kicha – a photographer, cinematographer, and visual storyteller. My journey started in physics, but my curiosity and love for imagery pulled me into filmmaking and photography. Over the years, I’ve built my career capturing people in a way that feels both cinematic and real. I work with brands, artists, and individuals who want more than just a photo. My shoots are a mix of creative exploration and technical precision, always driven by the people in front of my lens.
Filmmaker Bio: Team "Death" brings together a bundle of creators all with a love for music, comedy, and above all, chaos. With several members fresh off a 2024 feature film set, it's no surprise there seems to be no end in sight for their filmmaking streak. Grab a few double, triple, and quadruple threat performers, and tada! You have a musical!
INTERMISSION
Filmmaker Bio: I'm a young filmmaker looking to share my stories with the world. I've spent the last few years making action short films on Youtube and now I'm trying to branch into short film stories.
Filmmaker Bio: Kieran Taylor and Tom Barker both share a passion for short film, web media and live performances, and are always juggling several projects as once! This year we have collaborated with up and coming Performing Arts students to create our first screen project together! It has been such an adventure over the past 10 days to see an idea come to life so quickly, and the team can't wait to try it all out again next year.
Filmmaker Bio: Hi, my name's Callum, I'm a videographer that loves making short films in my spare time. LCA has been a fantastic outlet for me for years now - who doesn't love the power of a deadline!
Filmmaker Bio: I am a Nepalese independent filmmaker based in Canberra. My journey in filmmaking began in 2016, primarily focusing on music videos and short films. Several of my music videos have gained significant attention, with view counts ranging from 3 to 11 million on YouTube. I began participating in film festivals with Lights Canberra Action in 2023, following the completion of my Screen and Media course at CIT in 2022. Being among the top 12 finalists and winning the Best Original Music and People's Choice awards has inspired me to continue exploring visual storytelling.
Filmmaker Bio: Hi, I’m Angus, I’m a Director and Writer, I grew up in Central West NSW, studied Film in Canberra and I am currently based in Sydney. I have a deep passion for storytelling. I love consuming, creating and analysing film. Film as a medium has a vast impact, I believe it has the ability to incite internal debate, societal change and help digest the human experience. I am excited to be a part of this process and bring these stories to screen.
Filmmaker Bio: Screenwriting and directing duo Zac Bridgman and Matthew C. Lamb team up with long-term comedic collaborator James Edgar Lim to bring you a story dreamed up during the most boring of seminars the public service has to offer. Their third short film, They’re Ready For You, plays with late night shows, supernatural entities, time spirals, and vicious blows to the head. The chilling tale reminds us that power comes at a price, TV never really changes, and the end is always just another beginning. (James, stuck in Singapore for the project, is still waiting for his bolognaise…)
|
SCREENING OUTSIDE OF THE TWELVE
|
A DAY TO BE DIFFERENT |
Fantasy/Coming of Age, 7mins, G
UNDER 18S FILM |
|
Producer, Director, Writer: Dylan Wilds
Johnny’s routine repeats endlessly, until a single change shatters the cycle, making him do something he never saw coming. |
|
Filmmaker Bio: Dylan Wilds is a beginning producer and director but has had the love to act since he was young. He has made quite a few short films for different competitions and school projects over the years and has loved It every time he did them. He inspires from his brother who does the same as an actor and mainly a director.
A NEW CHAPTER |
Comedy/Drama, 7mins, PG (mild menace)
STUDENT FILM |
|
Producer, Director, Writer: Spencer Wilds
After Saving the World, The Amazing M (aka Charlie) must look forward to discover a new passion in his life. |
|
Filmmaker Bio: Spencer Wilds is a Canberran Film student specialising in Writing and Directing. After his first film (Double Vision) won the 2022 Lights Canberra Action Under 18s Category, he went on to pursue a degree in Film Production at the university of Canberra. He wishes to pursue a Career in film and continue to learn and grow from fellow Australian FilmMakers.
PROSTATE |
Animation, 7mins,
PG (crude humour, mild coarse language) |
|
Producer, Director, Writers: Tina Costessi and Adrian Muscat
When Jonathan is reminded of a traumatic memory from his past, he tries to overcome it but his actions lead to new traumas. |
|
Filmmaker Bio: Tina Costessi and Adrian Muscat have been making films together since 2013. The pair first entered LCA back in 2016 with their short drama film, Sunday. Tina and Adrian's passion for comedy and animation spurred them on to enter again this year with their second animated short.
2026 AwardsThe Screen Canberra Award for Best Film
The University of Canberra People's Choice Award The Award for Best Use of Theme The University of Canberra Award for Best Student Film The EMA Architects Award for Inclusive Film The Award for Best Under 18s Film The Burley & Brave Award for Best Use of an Item The Crux Media Award for Best Director The Eclipse Sound & Lighting Award for Best Sound Design The Canberra Theatre Centre Award for Best Original Music The Enemies of Reality Films Female Filmmaker Award The Perform Australia Award for Best Performance The Budding Entertainment Award for Most Memorable Performance The Metropolis Studios & Co Award for Best Cinematography The Missing Bits Award for Best Screenplay The Award for Best Editing Marisa Martin Art & Design Award for Best Art Direction The Award for Best Animation or Visual Effects |
2026 Items
2026 Winners
|
