Filmmakers are being urged to get creative and share in more than $10,000 in cash and prizes with the official launch of the 2015 Port Shorts Film Festival.

To be held under the stars in idyllic Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland over two huge nights on October 23-24, the Port Shorts Film Festival will showcase the best young and emerging filmmakers from around Australia.

Two of Australia’s leading film industry figures, Wolf Creek and Rogue producer Matt Hearn and acclaimed actor Stephen Curry (The Castle, The Cup, Underbelly, Hiding) have signed on as judges and ambassadors of the Port Shorts Film Festival and will be involved in workshops and mentoring opportunities for filmmakers.

With a $5000 cash prize for the best short film in the Open Filmmakers Awards, the Port Shorts Film Festival wants Australia’s brightest emerging filmmakers to show audiences what they are capable of.

Young filmmakers from around Australia aged 18 years and under are encouraged to enter the Young Filmmakers Awards, with $1000 in cash and a digital SLR camera up for grabs in the categories of Short Film, Microdocumentary and Music Video.

There is also the Local Filmmakers Awards with $2000 cash awarded to the winner.

Hearn, Founding Partner of Hotglue and 403 Productions, said he and friend Stephen Curry found their feet in short film and it helped drive their desire to be involved in the feature film and entertainment industry.

“Short film is an integral part of the Australian film landscape and we’re excited to support Port Shorts,” Hearn said.

“And what a great setting to introduce the next generation of filmmakers to the screen.”

Festival Director Alison George said the Port Shorts Film Festival would also host a film locations roadshow in the week leading up to the event for filmmakers interested in sourcing locations for future projects.

“The Port Shorts Film Festival is about supporting filmmakers, giving them a platform to showcase their talents and earning national recognition for their efforts, providing young people with the skills and encouragement to follow their dreams and showing emerging filmmakers what the Douglas Shire is capable of as a film location,”Ali said.

“Matt Hearn and Stephen Curry have been incredibly supportive as Port Shorts ambassadors and judges and they are really excited to be a part of the whole process and share their insights and experiences with emerging filmmakers.

Douglas Shire Council and Tourism Port Douglas Daintree are supporting the Port Shorts Film Festival as major sponsors, with Port Shorts organisers to announce other exciting new partnerships and festival events in the coming weeks.