National Youth Week is supported by the Department of Planning and Community Development and gives young people a chance to celebrate and be recognised for their endeavours.

In 2008, LenZone! Youth Resource Centre was successful in its application to hold the inaugural Zones Short Film Festival.  Young people between the ages 13 -25 were invited to submit short films or animations to be judged and screened at a gala Premiere in the magnificent Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre in Ararat during National Youth Week.

A team of young people came together to get the ball rolling by designing and distributing posters to the schools and around the towns of Ararat and Stawell.  LenZone! works across the two Local Government Areas of Ararat Rural City and Northern Grampians Shire.  The regional schools were sent details of the competition and we were really excited to receive entries from Ararat, Moyston, Stawell and Murtoa.

Two judges were selected for their expertise in media production and got to work in selecting the winning entry.

The night was a glittering affair, with our hosts Kellie and Devan dressed in their gold Louis XIV outfits; courtesy of the Rock Eisteddfod wardrobe.  Kate Fenech, from JMC Academy of Creative Arts was our special guest and spoke about the courses offered by JMC and showed some of the media productions created by the students attending the college.

After supper, it was on with the show.  As the audience hushed, we started with an animation by Chris Hawkins using 3-D Max; titled ‘Dare to be different’.  The story of a demon who attends a disco and watches the demons dancing to the same beat.  He decides to pull the plug and play his own music.

Next, was an entry by Alex Kennedy.  Another animation, using  Flash;  again with music playing an important part of the story.  Using 70s disco music, Green and Pink fight it out to be the best, only to realise that by working together; they can achieve more.

Another entry was a short film showcasing the skateboarding talents of the local Ararat and Stawell boys.  The filmmakers, brothers Ignatius and Bede Stewart displayed great techniques with panning and dolly shots of skaters which took the viewer on a ride.

The entry from Murtoa, ‘Maddogs’,  was  two daredevils getting up to a lot of mischief.  In the style of the movie ‘Jackass’, the film incorporates stunts that would make mothers cry and fathers cringe.  All in good humour, the filmmakers Cormac and Lochie seem to enjoy themselves.

Then we had an entry from Stawell Secondary College ‘Faulty Fingers’.  An hilarious short film about knitting needles that have a mind of their own.  A wonderful collaboration by Year 11 Media students.

A well received entry was from Year 7 student, Furkan who used his Mobile phone to record his short film.  While riding his bike, Furkan took the audience on a tour of his favourite park, Alexandra Gardens in Ararat.  His candid narration won the audience and he received rapturous applause.

Finally, we had ‘The Paper boy’ an entry by Devan Pitches.  The paperboy is destitute and has to wear newspapers because his parents can’t afford to buy him clothes.  He wanders the streets and people mock him and taunt him.  However, his luck changes when…. Ah, you will just have to watch it.

Danny Fraser, representing the judges on the night declared the animation ‘Green Vs Pink’, produced by Alex Kennedy as the overall winner.  Prizes were generously donated by sponsors such as Ararat Retravision, Ararat Australia Post, Jerrams Electronics and Auto Pro, Inside Film and Ararat Leading Edge Computers.  Ararat Rural City also supported the Event by providing the venue.

Applications are now open for 2009 National Youth Week grants and we hope to be able to do it bigger and better next year and continue to show off the great things young people can achieve!