Port Shorts Film Festival has named its 12 finalists ahead of the Port Douglas event to be held on October 23-24. Eleven of Australia’s finest short films and one special entry from Iran have been chosen from more than 100 entries.

Aussie actor Stephen Curry, Wolf Creek producer Matt Hearn and Cairns’ own screenwriter extraordinaire and ABC Far North radio host Kier Shorey will have the task of choosing a winner for the $5,000 Port Shorts Open Filmmaker Award and the $2,000 Port Shorts Local Filmmaker Award.

Newsport caught up with Stephen Curry, before he arrives in Port Douglas, to discuss the upcoming Port Shorts Film Festival, how he started his acting career, fishing and the Red Footed Booby Bird.

“There were over 100 entries from all over the country and the 12 finalists have been selected and one is from Iran.  So I guess officially it’s actually an international film festival,” said Curry.

The youngest of five siblings, Mr Curry started his acting career from a young age. Joining an amateur theatre group as children was well supported and encouraged by their parents. The thought of dressing up and pretending to be someone else appealed to Curry and it wasn’t until he was told that he could actually make a living out of doing this, that he chose to follow his creative passion.

The importance community theatre can play in preparing young ones for the industry is significant, according to Curry. “It builds confidence and self esteem as well as team satisfaction, and prepares them with skills for life,” he said.

The importance of short film festivals, in particular for the youth, plays a major role in providing an outlet to express that talent.  Within the digital world today, youth have far more access to ways and means of recording, filming and editing their own short films in collaboration with aspiring actors, directors, writers and others with a keen interest in pursuing a career and interest in film and television.

With Port Shorts holding the Young Filmmaker Awards on the Friday evening it opens up a level playing field for the youth by effectively creating their own festival, “the future of filmmaking at play” stated the organisers.

“This is a change for the kids lacking an outlet for their entries.  Having a separate under 18’s category is a way of reinforcing their talents and to express that talent as opposed to an open only category where 10 year olds are up against say 40 years olds,” said Curry.

Sustaining film festivals into the future is totally reliant upon strong community support as they grow.  In order to increase the credibility of Port Shorts to attract interest from top filmmakers, it takes more than a great venue and good catering.

“It’s like what comes first the chicken or the egg.  It’s important to give a great experience, venue and catering but it takes good films showcasing great talent and we’ve 12 finalists of high quality short films to present,” said Curry.

While locations of short film festivals have been known to offer some impact in terms of attracting interest from top filmmakers and audience support, according to Curry, generally it’s not a big consideration.

Having visited Port Douglas numerous times over the years, Curry said he has some unfinished business to attend to when he returns.

“About 12 years ago my fishing rod was stolen by a fish, so somewhere in the Cape Tribulation there is potentially a fish swimming around with my rod. Admittedly I should have been paying more attention, but it’s unfinished business I will be attending to,” he says with his usual tongue in cheek humour.

“Plus I can’t wait to see the Red Footed Booby Bird, I’m not making it up, and I am not just saying it as an excuse to say “booby”, it really is a bird,” he says with a laugh.