Melbourne – #TheAussieWord

Melbourne’s premiere international Web Series Festival will be held on July 20th 2013. Melbourne Web Series Festival (aka Melbourne WebFest) is now accepting submissions for the inaugural festival dedicated exclusively to Web Series. The festival is the first of its kind in Australia. It is the hub for global creators to share their knowledge, network, be recognized, and learn about the trends in the emerging Web Series industry.

Melbourne WebFest begins with educational panels dedicated to the business, technical, and creative aspects of web series, and developments in new and digital media. The afternoon will begin with screenings of 30 selected web series from all over the globe. The series included in the Official Selection will have an opportunity to be recognized in 5 different categories: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Thriller/Suspense, and Non-fiction. In addition, there are two special awards: The Outstanding Diversity Award, which honors a series in where the director or lead characters are traditionally under-represented in Film/Television; and The Grand Jury Selection, which receives all-expenses paid trips (including festival passes) to both Los Angeles, California and Marseille, France to represent Melbourne at the LAWEBFEST — the first and largest web series festival in the world— and the Marseille WebFest in 2014.

Submissions are now being accepted. Early entry is 15th February – 19th April ($40). Late Entry begins 20th April – 2nd of June ($70). The 30 series that will make up the Official Selection will be chosen by a jury, and will be announced on the 21st of June.

Please visit www.melbournewebfest.com for more detailed festival information, dates, submission guidelines, key personnel alongside a few featured series!

Melbourne WebFest will take place the 20th of July 2013, from 9am-11pm at Kindred Studios. Kindred Studios is located at 212a Whitehall Street, Yarraville (free parking along street).

Michael Ajakwe Jr., Emmy award winning Director and Founder of LAWEBFEST will be one of Melbourne WebFest’s international panelists. Ajakwe stated, “the idea of a web series festival in Melbourne is great because so many web series are coming out of Australia. It’s smart to acknowledge the work that’s being done on the continent which is why I wholeheartedly support the Melbourne WebFest and predict it will be a tremendous success.”

Melbourne WebFest Director, Ashlee Thomas, says “Australia has proven to be the Mecca of festivals, arts & culture. The likes of Tropfest and MIFF have created exceptional platforms for national and international talent to showcase their work. The time is now to bring the global creators and fans of Web Series to Australia and recognize the ingenuity of those who are rapidly transforming digital media and entertainment.”

Pre-Award Show entertainment will be provided by national and international musicians. The Melbourne Web Series Festival is committed to recognizing innovative creators in the emerging industry of Web Series Entertainment.

Melbourne Web Series Festival

Contact: Ashlee K. Thomas, Director
Phone: 0414 900 052
Email: info@melbournewebfest.com

Don’t forget to support their crowdfunding campaign!

theaussieword.com is very pleased to be supporting this event!

This is why I love Melbourne. So many amazing forms of art to be witnessed at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria. Popped in for a look at the latest rehang in Contemporary Art spaces, I was totally blown away. There was gravity defying video tape being held up by two pedestal fans installed by Zilvina Kempinas (check out my cool little video of the fans!) …a collection of extremely colourful shoes interpreted by Jeremy Scott for Adidas… There were even a funky pair of New Balance just to name a few. There was a photograph of Nick Cave sporting a full body stocking and a blue wig by Polly Borland! But wait for it…there was a table with four chairs by Rirkrit Tiravanija, all he had placed on it was a Thai newspaper and what seemed to be a silver pot …However, if you were there on the dot of 12pm on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, four people would be invited to sit at the table and enjoy Thai take away food which would be served up for lunch! YES, you could actually eat it! Not only do you get to witness the art but be a part of it! That’s Melbourne!