The state government is encouraging young Victorians, including those in Wyndham, to help tackle road safety challenges by coming up with a short film that will boost road safety and help save lives.
Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne joined the TAC at ACMI to launch the 2023 Split Second Competition.
The short film competition will give young Victorians a chance to get creative and produce impactful road safety campaigns addressing issues relevant to their age group.
This year, the competition is calling on Victorians aged between 18 and 25 to develop a script addressing either the risks associated with drowsy driving or the importance of vehicle safety.
The winner will take home a $5000 cash prize, along with a $70,000 production budget to have their script produced by leading production studio Sweet Shop, before appearing in cinemas across the state.
Last year’s Split Second competition winner Felix Barnett said that the experience allowed him to gain a greater understanding of the processes involved in making a film.
“Following the screening of my film, many old high school friends reached out to tell me how powerful they thought it was,” he said.
For the first time, Split Second will also award a runner-up with a $30,000 budget to have their idea produced and promoted across social media.
The competition underscores Victoria’s tragic start to the year on the state’s roads, with 77 fatalities, compared to 57 at the same time last year.
These sobering numbers are accompanied by the horrific reality that the number of young drivers and passengers dying on the Victorian roads is increasing, with 16 people aged between 18 and 25 killed, up from 11 at this time in 2022.
Applications are now open until Thursday, May 4, with the winning film premiering at ACMI in October.
Details: tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/split-second
