Film

Film @ The Arts Unit supports teachers and students in the dynamic realm of filmmaking. Join us in celebrating and showcasing your students' filmmaking accomplishments through engagement in live and virtual festivals, showcases, events, and awards. Enhance your students' visual storytelling skills with our online resource collection, offering practical guides on filmmaking, screenwriting, and utilising filmmaking technology for compelling storytelling.
A boy using an iPad to film a scene in front of a green screen. Other students look on.

Film digital resources

Offers engaging lessons, support for HSC students, teacher professional learning, performance showcases, and podcasts to aid in teaching and studying dance.

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Enquiries

Karishma Mathur
Film By Officer
The Arts Unit
karishma.mathur@det.nsw.edu.au
0427 770 377
David Todd
Digital Engagement Officer and Coordinator CApture Film Festival
The Arts Unit
david.todd@det.nsw.edu.au

Programs

Statewide

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Advisory Group

Program Dance Drama Film Literature and language arts Music VET Visual arts
Years 7 to 12 students identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
A student advisory group to assist in advising The Arts Unit.

All Ability Arts

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with disability
Provides teachers and students with teaching, learning and performance opportunities in areas such as music, dance, visual arts, public speaking, film and drama for or to support students with disability. 

CApture Film Festival

Program Film
Years 9, 10 and 11
CApture Film Festival showcases films from Year 9, 10 and 11 students.

Connections Showcase

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with disability

This annual showcase is an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our NSW public school students with disability.

Film

Program Film
Supports teachers and students to engage in the art of filmmaking. Live and online festivals, showcases, events, and awards celebrate and share students' achievements.

Film By

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Local and regional festivals, workshops, and professional learning opportunities in film.
Western Sydney

Film By Connection to Place

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
This special initiative offers a unique opportunity for young Indigenous storytellers to explore their voice, identity, and deep connection to culture and community.

Film By Invitation

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 8
A grand gathering of cinematic excellence featuring the finest films handpicked from across the Film By festivals.
St Andrews network

Film By Kalboonya Nura

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By Kalboonya Nura (Land of Lyrebird) invites students and staff to embark on a storytelling adventure, using film as a powerful way to explore voice, identity, and connection.
Mount Druitt

Film By Mount Druitt – our voices, our stories

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
This vibrant festival in the heart of Western Sydney brings together students, staff, and the community to celebrate creativity, inclusion, and the magic of storytelling on the big screen.
Online

Film By Online

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By Online showcases the creativity and imagination of NSW public school students. Digitally delivered, the festival is available to everyone to enjoy and share.
Sydney

Film By the City

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the City empowers students to explore diverse stories and develop their unique voices, reflecting the dynamic and multicultural nature of our city.
Far West NSW

Film By the Dust

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the Dust shines a spotlight on the unique filmmaking talent of Far West NSW, the heart of the Great Australian Outback
Blue Mountains

Film By the Eucalypts

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the Eucalypts supports schools in the Blue Mountains area.
Southwest Sydney

Film By the Farm

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Set in the heart of Southwest Sydney, with talent hailing from the vibrant communities of Camden, Campbelltown, and Wollondilly.

Film By the Hospital

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the Hospital represents an innovative collaboration between the NSW Department of Education and Hospital Schools around the state.
Southwest Sydney

Film By the Inspiration

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Bringing three special education schools from the heart of Southwest Sydney.
Coffs Harbour

Film By the Jetty

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Discover Film By the Jetty, celebrating storytelling at its finest in the beautiful coastal setting of Coffs Harbour.
Northern Rivers

Film By the Northern Rivers

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
This short film festival celebrates the fantastic, creative efforts of the combined students of the Northern Rivers.
Ryde

Film By the River

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
A cinematic journey set against the backdrop of Sydney’s beautiful northern riverscapes and leafy suburbs.
Sutherland Shire

Film By the Sea

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the Sea is now in its 13th year and still growing!
Canterbury | Kogarah | Marrickville

Film By the Tri

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
An inspiring platform for students to discover and express their individual voices and diverse narratives, capturing the rich multicultural essence of the three networks: Canterbury, Kogarah, and Marrickville.
Cessnock

Film By the Vines

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
The Cessnock Community of Great Public Schools brings you Film By the Vines.
Port Stephens

Film By the Water

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the Water celebrates the incredible filmmaking talent from the sparkling shores and the breathtaking hinterland of the Port Stephens area.
Parramatta | Kempsey

Film By – d/Deaf and hard of hearing student filmmaking program

Program Film
Years 7 to 12 d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing public school students
A unique filmmaking program for students (Years 7 to 12) who identify as d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing to dive into the art of filmmaking.

State Drama Festival

Program Drama Film
Kindergarten to Year 11

The Festival celebrates classroom drama achievements of students in Kindergarten to Year 11. This event is a celebration of drama works showcasing strong drama outcomes in classrooms from across the state.
Queanbeyan

Queanbeyan Performing Arts Festival

Program Dance Drama Film Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Providing students with an authentic, professional performance experience in front of a large audience
Campbelltown

Shining Stars

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Students engage in a relevant and meaningful arts education program.
South West Sydney

Shining Stars Film

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
An accessible school-based project, students and their teachers can explore storytelling through filmmaking, screenwriting and technical production.
Sydney Olympic Park

SpecFest

Program Dance Drama Film Music VET
SpecFest is the ultimate outdoor entertainment hub with great food, activations and chill-out zones for the whole family to enjoy.
Bega

Transitions – Far South Coast Creative Arts Camp

Program Dance Drama Film Visual arts
Years 5 and 6
Extend skills facilitated by professional artists and artisans with like-minded peers.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Transitions – Small Schools Creative Arts Camp

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts
Year 5 and 6 students from small schools
Extend skills facilitated by professional artists and artisans with like-minded peers.
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Upcoming applications

Students on stage performing at the State Drama Ensemble

NSW Public Schools State Drama Festival – school application

Chippendale
Kindergarten to Year 11

Applications closing: Fri 11 Sep 2026

The State Drama Festival is a showcase of dramatic works and short films by students from NSW public schools from across the state. Performances are selected from regional drama festivals or schools can submit an application to be included. All pieces in the festival are reviewed by a selection panel.
CApture

CApture Film Festival – how to enter

Region: all
Year 9, 10 and 11

Applications open: Mon 16 Mar 2026
Applications close: Wed 16 Sep 2026

The CApture Film Festival is open to Year 9, 10 and 11 students. Schools can participate in the festival as a class entry or submit films created by individual students or groups of students. There are no fees to participate; schools are eligible to submit multiple films and must adhere to the guidelines listed on this page. To enter CApture:
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Upcoming events

Film by the Jetty logo with a vintage camera on a tripod next to a wooden jetty.

Film By the Jetty

Coffs Harbour
Kindergarten to Year 11

Date: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Red carpet: 5:30 pm
Films showing: 6 pm

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Film calendar

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All Arts Units programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in Film, please email karishma.mathur@det.nsw.edu.au so we can assist.