Can I Submit More Than One Film?
Yes, you can submit as many films as you like, provided that each entry is accompanied by either a completed Features or Shorts Entry Form (as appropriate) and the AU$50 (features) or AU$30 (shorts) entry fee. [return to top]
Do Films Have to Be On a Particular Topic Or Genre?
No. Films can be in any style or on any topic, but must not breach copyright, defamation or anti-discrimination laws. By way of example, Home Brewed 2003 finalists included comedies, documentaries, animations, drama, thrillers and mockumentaries.
The only exception to this is that films seeking to qualify for the Best Illawarra Short Filmmaker, must either be made in the Illawarra or have significant links to the Illawarra in the form of content, crew or actors involved in the film's production. [return to top]
What Format Should My Film Be In?
All entries for both the Features and Shorts competitions are to be submitted on VHS cassette, or DVD only. Both PAL and NTSC format of VHS will be accepted, as will either 4:3 or 16:9 format.
If your film is selected for screening, you may be asked to provide a higher quality copy such as Betacam (if available). For feature films, the 35mm film print will be preferred for screening purposes, but is not necessary and finalists will be contacted to discuss options in this regard. [return to top]
Can I Use Any Music, Sounds or Images I Want in My Film?
No. Music, sound recordings and certain images (such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in Sydney) cannot be used in your film without permission from the owners of Copyright in the relevant material, or sometimes without a special permit.
In entering your film in Home Brewed, you are required to sign a declaration (as part of the Entry Form) that you hold all appropriate permissions for the content of your film. Home Brewed may ask you to provide evidence of this if your film is selected for screening as a finalist or feature winner.
For further information on this issue see the Industry Info section of our Links page. [return to top]
What are the Boundaries of "The Illawarra"?
For the purposes of the Best Illawarra Short Filmmaker award in 2004, "The Illawarra Region" is defined as the area under the jurisdiction of Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong local councils. Geographically, this area extends from the town of Helensburgh in the North, to Gerroa in the South, and lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Illawarra escarpment. [return to top]
What are the Length Restrictions for a Short Film Entry?
Maximum length of 10 minutes, including all titles and credits for the film. There is no minimum length for the Short Film Competition. [return to top]
What are the Length Restrictions for a Feature Film Entry?
In addition to being unreleased or having limited release on 5 or less screens, Feature Films must be a minimum length of 60 minutes to qualify for entry into Home Brewed. There is no maximum length for the Feature Film Competition. [return to top]
Can I Enter Films Made Before 2004?
For Short Films, anything made since 1 January 2002 is eligible for entry into the 2004 Home Brewed International Film Festival.
For Feature Films, anything made since 1 January 2001 is eligible for entry into the 2004 Home Brewed International Film Festival.
Films made before the times detailed above are not eligible for entry. [return to top]
If I Entered Home Brewed in 2003, Can I Enter Again?
Yes, but only if your film was not selected as a finalist in Home Brewed 2003. Films selected as finalists in any Home Brewed Festival year are ineligible for entry in any subsequent years of the competition. [return to top]
Is There An Entry Fee for the Film Competitions?
Yes, the entry fee is AU$30 (Australian Dollars) for short films and AU$50 for feature films, payable to "Home Brewed" for both Feature and Short Film competitions. [return to top]
You can pay the entry fee by:
- credit card (Visa, Bankcard or Mastercard only) by completing the Credit Card Authority attached to the Entry Form, and posting that to us with you entry; or
- money order made out to "Home Brewed"; or
- for Australian entrants only by cheque payable to "Home Brewed". [return to top]
When Will I Find Out if My Film is a Finalist?
All entrants will be advised either by email or phone, as to whether or not they are a finalist. Notification will occur in the weeks following the closing dates for each competition (see the Key Dates for details of closing dates). [return to top]
How Are the Winner/s Selected?
All judging for the winners of the Short Film category of the Home Brewed International FIlm Festival will be carried out by independent panels prior to the screening of the finalists. The members of these panels can be seen on the Shorts page.
These details may be updated periodically leading up to the closing date for short film entries of 17 September 2004. The judging panels will select the winners and notify Home Brewed of the results. Announcements of the Short Film winners will be made at the Home Brewed Awards Party, immediately following the screening on 30 October 2004.
The four winning films in the Feature category will be selected by Home Brewed. [return to top]
When Will the Finalists and Winners Be Screened?
The screening of the finalist films at the Home Brewed International Film Festival will be before a public audience from 26 to 30 October 2004, at Greater Union Cinemas in Wollongong, NSW Australia.
The four successful feature films will screen from 26 to 29 October, each night in conjunction with a Home Brewed Classic film from the vaults of Hollywood past. Details of these screenings will be advertised closer to the Festival. The Short Film finalists screen on the final night of the Festival, 30 October 2004. [return to top]
Can Anyone Come to Watch the Home Brewed Film Festival?
Yes, this event is open to the public and will be advertised in the lead up to the event. It is anticipated that content of some of the films will be consistent with a rating of M (15+) ie. adult supervision recommended for people under 15 years of age. [return to top]
Is There A Charge to Attend the Home Brewed International Film Festival?
Yes. All sessions to the Festival are at the Greater Union concession rate of AU$10.50. A Greater Union Festival Pass to all 5 sessions (including free entry to the Home Brewed Awards Party) can be purchased before the Festival or at the first screening on 26 Octobre 2004, for AU$45.
Successful Feature filmmakers receive 10 free tickets to their session. Finalists in the Short Film category receive a free double pass to the 30 October screening. All finalists receive free entry for themselves and a friend to the Awards Party on 30 October. Finalists can also attend additional screening sessions for a discuonted rate of AU$9. [return to top]
Tickets, including Festival Passes, can be purchased from Greater Union Cinemas in Wollongong or Shellharbour from August. They can also be purchased by completing and mailing the ticket booking form, available on this site from July.
If the screenings are not sold out in advance, tickets will also be available at the door of the Festival venue, Greater Union Cinemas Wollongong. [return to top]
What Time Will the Screening of the Films Start and Finish?
The screenings on 26 to 29 October will start at 7pm. As they are double features including a winning feature entrant and a Home Brewed Classic from the vaults of Hollywood past, these screenings are excpected to finish around 11 to 11.30pm.
The doors to the Short Film Festival will open at 6.00pm on 30 October and screening will commence at 6.30pm. This should finish at approximately 9.30pm and will be immediately followed by the Awards Party and the announcements as to the Short Film category winners. [return to top]
The bustling and beautiful heart of the NSW South Coast, Wollongong is about an hour south of Sydney by car, or an hour and a quarter by train from Sydney Central station. The venue for the screening of the Home Brewed International Film Festival, Greater Union Wollongong is on Burelli Street, a short walk from Wollongong City train station. For more details, visit our Audience page. [return to top]
What is Home Brewed's Postal Address?
PO Box 130, Dapto NSW 2530, Australia. For other ways of reaching us, see the Contacts page. [return to top]