Film By

Kindergarten to Year 11

Film By provides teachers and students with filmmaking skills and expertise to tell their own stories. The program includes festivals, workshops and professional learning opportunities in film for teachers and students from all schools in NSW.
Group of students filming a scene with cameras and a boom microphone

About Film By

Film By empowers both teachers and students with the art of storytelling through filmmaking, offering a comprehensive program that encompasses festivals, workshops, and professional learning opportunities. This initiative opens doors for participants from public schools across NSW to explore their creativity and hone their skills in the captivating world of cinema.

At the heart of Film By are the remarkable student filmmakers, spanning from Kindergarten to Year 11, whose achievements are celebrated in local cinemas throughout NSW as part of a series of dynamic festivals.

The exclusive Film By Invitation and CApture events elevates the excitement, spotlighting the most exceptional films from across the state and promising an unforgettable premiere experience.

Our state festivals are divided into:

  • Film By Invitation showcases the finest exemplary films created by students from Kindergarten to Year 11, selected from across all local Film By festivals.
  • CApture highlights outstanding films from students in Years 9 to 11. Please note that while selections aim to represent a diverse range of talent, inclusion from each festival is not guaranteed.)

Moreover, Film By extends its reach digitally, providing accessible resources and hosting enriching workshops statewide, ensuring that the magic of filmmaking is within reach for all public schools in NSW.

On this page

Enquiries

Karishma Mathur
Film By Officer
The Arts Unit
karishma.mathur@det.nsw.edu.au
0427 770 377

How to enter

Schools are encouraged to showcase their cinematic creations at their local Film By festival. For those without a nearby festival, fear not; you can submit your students' films to Film By Online.

Films must be no longer than 3.5 minutes and be G-rated.
All guidelines can be found on our how to enter pages. 

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Support

Resources

Lights, camera, action! is an online resource created by The Arts Unit that supports teachers and students in all aspects of filmmaking, including camera, story, sound, pre-production, production, and post-production. 

You can also access CApture resources.

Film kits and equipment

Technology for Learning (T4L) loans film equipment to accommodate 30 students, with each kit containing 10 cameras for group work. To borrow, fill out a booking form. Explore the STEM.T4Lfilm kit on their YouTube channel.

Viva Engage

This year, we have a new Film By Viva Engage (Yammer) page. We encourage you to ask questions and submit any scripts for feedback through this platform.

Digital library

All films created by Film By Festivals from across the state in 2023 are currently online and curated into a digital library for schools to access. Schools might like to view these films with their students as stimulation for their films. There are 164 films in the collection.

Workshops

Apply for Film By workshops or email Film By Officer karishma.mathur@det.nsw.edu.au to express your interest in the Film By team coming to your local area for a workshop.

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Film By Invitation

Roll out the virtual red carpet and join us for the 2025 Film By Invitation – an exclusive online premiere showcasing the most outstanding student films from across our Film By festivals!

This is your chance to experience the magic from anywhere! No matter where you are, you can watch, celebrate, and be inspired by the creativity and storytelling of students from all over NSW.

Watch the Film By Invitation 2025 films.

Striped popcorn bucket wrapped in film strip against a blue bokeh background.
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Learn more about festivals near you

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Workshops

Workshops

With a focus on individual growth and collective inspiration, our workshops offer a unique opportunity for students and teachers alike to expand their knowledge on aspects of filmmaking.

The Film By workshop at Taronga Zoo Sydney was an amazing experience for us at Mudgee Public School, built with lots of adventure and opportunities, and something we will never forget. As part of our SRC Media and Promotion team, it gave us the chance to represent our school and step into real filmmaking roles.

We supported each other, built our confidence and felt proud of what we created together as a team. We can’t wait to bring our new skills in making videos back to Mudgee Public School and share them with students through our media team and school projects.

– Dimity, Annie and Eden (Mudgee Public School)

View more workshop testimonials.

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Upcoming applications

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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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Programs

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.
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.
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.
Blue Mountains

Film By the Eucalypts

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

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.
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Film By 2025 was proudly supported by Prize Partner, the ABC.

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