The 2025 Festival
Sign up to our newsletter to get information on the 2026 Festival, Feb-March 2026.
Sign up to our newsletter to get information on the 2026 Festival, Feb-March 2026.
INFORMATION FOR FILMMAKERS
Important dates 2025
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ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENT
Friday 21st February, 6pm, via Facebook Live www.facebook.com/LightsCanberraAction The list of 10 items to be included in your film for points will be announced. FILMMAKING Friday 21st Feb to Monday 3rd March Teams make their films. FILM DEADLINE Monday 3rd March, 6pm, Online Submission Only Films must be completed and submitted via the website before 6pm. TOP TWELVE ANNOUNCEMENT Wednesday 5th March, by 5pm We announce the films screening in competition via email GALA SCREENING & AWARDS @ ENLIGHTEN FESTIVAL Friday 7th March, 7pm for 8pm, Entry is free, Ages 15+ (under 15s with an adult), Bring your own chair. |
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PRIZES
Sponsor |
Award |
Prize |
Screen Canberra Award for Best Film (most points overall) |
$600 cash |
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AIE Award for Best Use of Theme |
$300 cash |
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UC Award for Best Student Film |
$300 cash |
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Allhomes Award for Best under 18s Film |
$300 cash |
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Burley & Brave Award for Best Use of an Item |
$300 cash + Mini Canberra Bus Shelter |
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Crux Media Award for Best Director |
$300 cash |
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Eclipse Lighting & Sound Award for Best Sound Design |
$300 cash |
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The Property Collective Award for Best Original Music |
$300 cash |
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Enemies of Reality Films Female Filmmaker Award |
$300 cash |
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Perform Australia Award for Best Performance |
$300 cash |
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Budding Entertainment Award for Most Memorable Performance |
$300 cash |
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By George Studios Award for Best Cinematography |
$300 cash |
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The Missing Bits Award for Best Screenplay |
$300 cash |
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One X Award for Best Editing |
$300 cash |
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Marisa Martin Art & Design Award for Best Art Direction |
$300 cash |
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AIE Award for Best Animation or Visual Effects |
$300 cash |
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University of Canberra Award for People's Choice |
$300 cash |
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EMA Architects Award for Inclusive Film |
$300 cash |
Prizes are awarded by the judging panel and will be announced after the screening of the Top Twelve films. Each prize is noted below and includes a Clapper Board Trophy.
The People's Choice Award is voted by the audience online after the screening.
Sponsors provide the prize money and trophy but have no say in the outcome of any awards or any other results of the competition.
The People's Choice Award is voted by the audience online after the screening.
Sponsors provide the prize money and trophy but have no say in the outcome of any awards or any other results of the competition.
ITEMS
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The 2025 items (worth ten points each) were:
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ITEM SPECIFIC RULES
- You must include at least one item. They are worth 10 points each so it's worth including all of them, but at a minimum - one item.
- Unless specified otherwise, the items MUST BE SEEN for the points to be awarded.
- Only FIVE can appear in photos/drawings/representations, the rest must be included in the film as actual items/props/locations.
- A character MUST interact with at least ONE item.
- Inclusive teams are only required to include FIVE items.
- Don't forget safety comes first, don't disrupt the public *too* much and don't do anything illegal!
RULES and requirements
RULES
- Films must be shot within the 10 'filmmaking' days (archival footage excepted). Preparation for shooting may be done outside of those days.
- A character MUST interact with at least ONE ITEM in the film
- A maximum of five items can be included via still-image/photographs. The rest must be actual items/props in the scene or locations for scenes. The only exclusion is animation - if a film is entirely animated, they can include all items as visual representation
- Films must be a maximum of 7 minutes long, including credits
- Unless an item is specifically noted as being an audio item, the item must be seen or visually represented. Drawings, photos and other visual representations are acceptable (up to the maximum of five representations)
- To be eligible for the student entry price and prize ALL Producers AND Directors must be full time students - either primary, secondary or tertiary and currently undertaking a full time study load. Photocopies/sighting of students cards will be required
- To be eligible for the Under 18s Prize, ALL Producers AND Directors must be under 18. ID will need to be sighted by the LCA team
- To be eligible for the Inclusive Team entry price and rules, the team would require the Producer, Director or Writer be a person living with disability and thereby heavily involved in the creative process. The altered rules for Inclusive Teams are that they require only 5 items, all of which can be pictures/representations. They would be eligible for the Inclusive Team entry fee (which would be the same as a student team).
- You must have copyright clearance for the music, script and any other element in your film
- The Festival will clear locations that are specifically listed as actual 'items'. Producers won't have to get location clearances for those places. All other locations are up to the Producers to seek clearance and permission to use
- You must obtain all appropriate approvals, permissions and insurances for your film.
- The Producer of the film is responsible for the safety of their team. LCA does not insure the filmmakers, so consider insurance options before you begin. Some low cost insurance options for short films are available, google 'short film insurance australia'.
- In regard to animation - you may prepare before the filmmaking days ie. do preparatory drawings, write scripts, draw/paint/prepare backgrounds etc before the filmmaking days - but all 'animation' (the actual putting together of the movement in a computer program or any shooting of stop-motion) must be done in the filmmaking days
- Please keep in mind the open nature of the award screening when making your films and keep violence, language and drug use etc to no more than an (M) level. See www.classification.gov.au for details on the (M) classification
- Mistreatment of animals will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification and reporting to authorities.
- Promotion of hate speech will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification.
- DRONES: Make sure you understand and abide by Commonwealth laws regarding Drone use. You can review them here: https://www.casa.gov.au/knowyourdrone
- GUNS: Make sure you understand and abide by relevant laws regarding firearm use in films. You can get more information on the laws here: https://screencanberra.com.au/resources/firearms-in-the-act/
- USE OF AI: We allow the use of AI in the creation of your films, but it must be made clear in the credits of your film what elements were created by AI and what is original work created by humans. AI elements will also be ineligible for awards - ie. if you use AI to animate, then your film couldn’t win ‘Best Animation’ or if you use AI to create your script, then the film would be ineligible for ‘Best Screenplay’. This is because awards are intended to go to a person who has done outstanding work and done it themselves. This is an honour system (like most of the rules in LCA).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You need to submit:
- The online submission form
- A HD version of your film which will be your judging AND screening copy
- Payment of Entry Fee
If you do not have access to internet enough to upload your video and/or you cannot make an online payment, you can bring your film and payment to the Festival Office and we will assist you.
The office has NBN and is located in Queanbeyan. Contact us to make arrangements BEFORE the due date.
No matter how you submit, you must allow enough time to upload and fill in the form - all of which can take 30 minutes even if you have good internet.
The office has NBN and is located in Queanbeyan. Contact us to make arrangements BEFORE the due date.
No matter how you submit, you must allow enough time to upload and fill in the form - all of which can take 30 minutes even if you have good internet.
ONLINE SUBMISSION
You must submit online. You can use services like vimeo, one-drive, youtube unlisted, dropbox, we-transfer etc. We don't mind how you get your film file to us, but we need to be able to download it. You will include the link in your submission form, to be filled out online. The link must be available for viewing from 6pm on the submission Monday - so make sure you allow enough time to upload your video. Technical difficulties will not be taken into account when noting your submission time.
Please don't distribute your link until after our Gala Screening - we want everyone to come to the festival and see the film on the big screen!
Please don't distribute your link until after our Gala Screening - we want everyone to come to the festival and see the film on the big screen!
PREVIOUS FESTIVALS
watch previous finalists
Many of the previous Top Twelve films are online, and you can watch those we've found in playlists by year on our YouTube Channel.
scoring and JUDGING
SCORING
Points will be awarded for including the specified items in the films, and you will have to seek them out – Scavenger Hunt style. You can include the items anyway you like, your character can walk past one, or you can set a scene at a location, whatever fits your story best. Be playful and creative! We want to see Canberra in new and interesting ways. You receive 10 points for each item visible in your film. You also receive the following points for the technical elements of your film. These are awarded by a Judging Panel:
Filmmaking Element |
Description |
Points |
Screenplay/Writing |
Original and creative story and plot, good dialogue and believable characters. |
Up to 20 |
Acting/Performance |
Believable and memorable acting/interviewees in documentaries |
Up to 20 |
Directing |
How the whole piece fits together - all the elements working cohesively to realise the script to its full potential visually, aurally & emotionally. |
Up to 20 |
Editing |
Editing that supports the style of the film and enhances the story and emotion. |
Up to 20 |
Cinematography |
The quality of the camera work, lighting and shot design. |
Up to 20 |
Sound Design |
The recording and mixing of location recordings, music and sound effects and creative use of sound. |
Up to 20 |
Music |
How well the music is used to fit the tone & emotion of the film. If there is no music, points will be given if that choice works in favour of the film. |
Up to 20 |
Art Direction |
Creative use or creation of props, locations, set dressing and costuming. |
Up to 20 |
Enjoyment |
How enjoyable the film is, regardless of genre. Enjoyable means good to watch, not boring, the right length for the story - the x-factor. Do they like it. |
Up to 20 |
Use of Theme |
How the film relates to and creatively utilises the theme |
Up to 20 |
- The Top Twelve films by the points are then screened to an audience and prizes in each of the technical categories are awarded as well as Best Film, Best Student Film and Best Use of an Item.
- The People's Favourite Film is voted online the week after the festival and announced at the encore screening.
- Female Filmmaker Award is given to an outstanding female in a behind the camera role and is decided by the Judging Panel.
JUDGES
We select a panel of filmmakers, critics and people who have general film interests. The panel changes each year.
The 2025 Judging panel are:
The 2025 Judging panel are:
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Chris Holly He/HimChris has been a practicing visual artist and professional photographer for over 25 years. In addition to working in photomedia and video, he’s also played, recorded and performed music for over 30 years. He made his first documentary on remote mountaineering in Antarctica in 1999 and has continued to assist and collaborate on video projects since then. He’s currently working in the ACT Government, and continues to exhibit and perform as often as he can.
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Justene Taylor Cannon She/HerJustene Taylor-Cannon works as a Location Manager across all genres of film and television production. She has worked on many Australian productions, including Total Control, PM’s Daughter, Neighbours and Sissy. After an extended time location scouting in the US, Justene is glad to be back in Australia and supporting filmmaking in Canberra.
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Luke McWilliams He/HimLuke is the Executive Producer and co-host of The Movie Club, a weekly movie reviews, news and interviews program broadcast every week on ArtSound FM 92.7 and www.themovieclub.net. In addition to reviewing movies, The Movie Club serves to share local film-related events of local arts organisations and arts agencies, promoting and encouraging grassroots filmmakers, artists and their projects. Luke has been the primary movie reviewer for the Canberra Weekly magazine since 2013 and has lead presentations and discussion panels at Canberra's games and animation conventions such as ComicCON and Gamma.Con.
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How to enter the festival
- Subscribe to the LCA Newsletter - it has all the important information about the festival and updates during filmmaking. You can subscribe HERE.
- Watch the Items Announcement on the LCA Facebook Page HERE on the first day of filmmaking (Fri 21st Feb, 6pm).
- Make a short film between the items announcement and close of entries, up to 7 mins long, including as many of the ten items as you can and the festival's theme of the year. All the rules are in the 'Rules & Requirements' section above.
- Submit your film on this website when you're done - no later than 6pm on the Close of Entries Monday (Mon 3rd Mar, 6pm) with your entry fee ($22 for Student/Under 18s/Inclusive Teams, $33 for General Teams).
Any questions, call the Festival Office or email:
Festival Director: Marisa Martin
Filmmaker Enquiries: 0422 524 351
Email: marisa@enemiesofreality.com
20 YEARS OF LIGHTS! CANBERRA! ACTION! 2023
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Screening @ Enlighten FestivalTop Twelve Gala Screening and Awards
FRIDAY 7TH MARCH 2025, 7PM FOR 8PM START Senate Rose Gardens, Old Parliament House Bring your chair or picnic blanket and watch the Top Twelve films under the stars. |
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Contact UsGeneral Enquiries: 13 22 81
Festival Director: Marisa Martin Filmmaker Enquiries: 0422 524 351 Email: marisa@enemiesofreality.com |
SubscribeTo keep up to date with all the festival news for filmmakers, subscribe to the Festival Newsletter that comes out during the festival.
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