Reelise Film Festival returns to champion youth voices and connection

The 12th annual Reelise Film Festival will take place at Ritz Cinemas Randwick on 23 August, showcasing bold, funny, heart-wrenching and deeply personal stories created by Australians aged 12 to 24.

The announcement:

Empowering storytelling, building futures, and strengthening mental wellbeing – all through the lens of youth.

In a world where young people are bombarded by pressure, disconnection, and uncertainty, REELise gives them something vital – a voice.

Now in its 12th year, the REELise Film Festival returns to Ritz Cinemas Randwick on 23 August, showcasing the bold, funny, heart-wrenching, and deeply personal stories of young Australians aged 12 to 24. Created by a youth-focused organisation committed to wellbeing, digital empowerment, and creative career pathways, the Festival is more than a screening; it’s a movement.

“The REELise Film Festival is about more than filmmaking. It’s about fostering belonging, confidence, and positive change,” says REELise founder and managing director Karen Hamilton. “Amid a national youth mental health crisis, we’re creating a safe space for young people to be heard, to connect, and to thrive – not only as storytellers but as changemakers.”

This year’s competition theme, Connection, inspired a powerful lineup of short films. From tender explorations of grief, identity, friendship, and family to the surreal, whimsical, and comedic, the stories shine a light on everything from the awkwardness of first love to the quiet ache of loneliness and the unexpected ways we connect and rediscover each other. Whether grounded in realism or drifting through dreamlike landscapes, each film speaks to the essence of being young today – striving for identity, belonging, and hope in a disconnected age.

Supported by Randwick City Council, Woollahra Municipal Council, Screen NSW, and Netflix, the Festival offers a rare platform for young creators to reach national audiences, gain industry exposure, and access real career opportunities in screen media.

REELise ambassadors – entertainer and activist, Etcetera Etcetera and beloved YouTube comedian Alan Tsibulya are hosting the event. Prizes include cash, exclusive mentorships and behind-the-scenes experiences with ITV Studios Australia and Matchbox Pictures, cutting-edge gear from JBL, TCL, and Harvey Norman, VIP casting support from StarNow, Backstage, and Mandy, and some delicious support from Red Rooster.

Festival winners will be chosen by a distinguished industry panel, comprising Evan Wilkes (Unscripted Executive, ITV Studios Australia), Erin White (multi-award-winning writer/director), Dr Ben Crisp (award-winning screenwriter/filmmaker, and tertiary educator) and Kirk Marcolina (award-winning documentary filmmaker and Senior Lecturer, Documentary at Australia Film Television and Radio School).

The REELise Film Festival is where future filmmakers are born, stories that matter are heard, and young people find connection – with each other, the world, and themselves.

Tickets and more information available at: www.reelise.org.au

Source: Reelise Inc.