Epic Games, a leading interactive entertainment company and provider of 3D engine technology, has partnered with Film Victoria, Screen NSW, Screen Tasmania, Screen Queensland, Screenwest, Screen Territory and South Australian Film Corporation to launch an Australia-wide short film competition.
The Unreal Engine Real-Time Short Film Challenge encourages creators at any stage of their career to produce their own short film using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, a state-of-the-art toolset that frees people to author a range of linear media and interactive content across the visual spectrum, from stylized to photorealistic.
Filmmakers, animators, and VFX practitioners worldwide are utilizing Unreal Engine for virtual production, from previs to VR scouting on virtual sets, and in-camera visual effects and final renders. To date, Unreal Engine has been used in production on more than 100 commercial television and film projects.
Applicants do not need any prior experience with Unreal Engine in order to participate. To ease creators into the world of real-time technology, Epic is running a series of free training sessions for creators, including screenwriters and producers, to learn Unreal Engine over the course of two weeks, starting on 10 August 2020.
“There is an abundance of incredible creative work coming out of Australia and we’re thrilled to partner in this initiative to support exceptional talent,” said Connie Kennedy, Head of LA Lab, Epic Games.
“The Unreal Engine Real-Time Short Film Challenge will not only help discover new storytellers, but also provide free training to encourage the use of collaborative virtual production techniques that open new doors, particularly in this era of physically-distanced production requirements.”
Following the free Unreal Engine training program, participants are encouraged to submit a pitch for a short film using the tool. Each state’s winning candidate will receive $20,000 to develop and produce their short film. Finalists will have their shorts judged, with the winner taking home a grand prize of $50,000.
