StarBurst Film Festival & Filmmaking Symposium

Enjoy short films by local filmmakers and hear from film industry experts!

Be inspired by local filmmaking talent and hear from experts in the industry at the StarBurst Film Festival and Filmmaking Symposium on Saturday 1 April at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.

From 9am, join a panel discussion with experts in the film industry who will share tips and insights on how to access film funding and broadcasting agreements. Then from 12pm, enjoy a range of short films made by local creatives that were submitted as part of the StarBurst Film Festival competition.

Hear from experts in the industry including;

  • StarBurst Film Festival creator Kirstie Boerst, an experienced creative producer and Penrith local.
  • Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, award winning director, writer and producer
  • Sally Regan, film producer in Australia, Europe, Asia and America
  • Scotty Wilcox, visual effects and 3D animation.
  • Amanda Hood, award-winning Australian comedy writer and film director
  • Genevieve Clay-Smith, inclusive filmmaker
  • Bus Stop Films, a not-for-profit organisation that uses filmmaking to raise the profile of people living with disabilities.
  • Mike Honey, VFX (visual effects) and post production film supervisor
  • PPVA, an organisation aimed at guiding Penrith citizens from all ages and stages through their artistic pathways

For more information about the panellists go to: www.starburstfilmfestival.com/events/

Tickets cost $15 and grant you access to both the Symposium and Film Festival, get your ticket here.

Penrith City Council and Screen NSW are major sponsors of the StarBurst Film Festival. Proudly sponsored in part by Screen NSW under the Film Festival Funding program.

Congratulations to the finalists of the StarBurst Film Festival! We can’t wait to showcase the following short films made by talented filmmakers:

  • A Woman's Best Friend, directed by Caroline Sparkes
  • Bad Guy, directed by Craig Cauchi
  • Billionnaires Post Lockdown Pranks, directed by Linley Kaminski, Steven Horvath & Joseph Giannini
  • Blurred, directed by Alexia Vidler
  • eggsperiment, directed by Justine Goldrick
  • Fresh Cut, directed by Zane Mestousis
  • Golem, directed by Ryan Cauchi
  • Hear Me, directed by Julian Neuhaus
  • Homecoming, directed by Tim Hans
  • It Will Come to You, directed by Brendan Flood
  • It Won't Define Me, directed by Bus Stop Films
  • Jack, directed by Timothy Wilde
  • Like a Bird, directed by Amy Rose Hancock
  • Look the Part, directed by Bus Stop Films
  • Making Sense of Scents, directed by Juliana Purnell
  • Mate, directed by George-Alex Nagle
  • Midnight Stories: Morgan, directed by Ryan Cauchi
  • New Life, directed by Mark Bernard
  • Old Fart, directed by David O'Brien
  • Scouts, directed by Charlotte Wood
  • Served Cold, directed by Muy Lang Linda Ung
  • SYRON, directed by Jenny Fraser
  • Tales from the Dark Web: Moira Hill, directed by Ryan Cauchi
  • Terrence, directed by Shea Donohoe
  • Terry Leans In, directed by Gary Boulter
  • The Pinnacle, directed by Ben Skinner
  • Zoom on the Broom, directed by Justine Goldrick

For all enquiries, please contact: Penrith City Council Events Team on 47327648 or

Dates & Times

No upcoming occurrences.