LOCALS hosts Tony Jackson and Suzanne Donisthorpe.
FILMS BY LOCALS
LOCALS is the Castlemaine Documentary Festival’s very own exclusive showcase for locally made short documentaries. This program highlights the talent of local storytellers who are creating impactful films set locally and beyond the town’s borders.
We invite filmmakers—whether experienced producers, emerging voices, or those somewhere in between—to present their films to a passionate audience eager to engage with regional perspectives. The program celebrates a wide range of documentary styles, from experimental non-fiction to observational storytelling, and covers subjects that are informative, entertaining, historical, or deeply personal.
To read about the submission process, please see below.
Calling anyone who lives, works, plays (or has some meaningful connection) to central Victoria to submit a less-than-six-minute-film to LOCALS.
Your film can be about anything and in any style; experimental non-fiction or observational documentary, informative or entertaining, historical or personal.
On the night, the audience will vote for their favourite film, as will the judges – each winner receiving a Black Magic DaVinci Resolve Studio, worth $500
*NB: Not all films submitted will be selected to screen, as we receive more applications than we have time. We endeavour to run LOCALS Redux, a gala event later in the year showcasing all the films submitted.
TIME LIMIT: 6 minutes
DEADLINE: 23 May 2025
For the submission form, you will need:
> Title of film
> Film duration: in minutes and seconds (includes titles and credits)
> Film synopsis: Less than 50 words to give a sense of what the film is about
> Film credits: names and roles of contributors and participants
> Bio about the filmmaker or filmmaking team
> Social handles & links: who to shout out to if the film is selected for screening
> Film production images: up to 5 stills
> Viewing link (Vimeo or YouTube): screening files will be requested later
> Confirm you own the copyright
> Confirm you have consent to the screen the film
> Contact details
FAQs
Hear from past LOCALS participants
“Being part of the CDoc locals event in 2022 was such a positive experience. Not only was it great to have the local people I’d filmed be able to attend and see themselves on the big screen, but it was inspiring to see just how many other creative people are making work and with this event, have a chance for it to be seen publicly in such a celebratory way.”
Mitch Nirvalis
Creative Director
‘Equal the Contest’
WINNER: Audience Favourite Award
“As an entrant into the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival (CDoc) and receiving the honour of coming in third place, it has been a transformative experience for my career as a filmmaker.
Being a part of the CDoc festival has allowed me to connect with fellow filmmakers, industry professionals, and an engaged audience who share a passion for the art of documentary filmmaking. Both at viewings and industry events. The platform you provided has not only increased the visibility of my work but has also opened doors to new opportunities and collaborations. This has led to new and exciting commercial prospects locally, as well as being invited to work on bigger projects nationally in positions I could only dream of with national broadcasting and streaming services.
The festival’s commitment to celebrating and promoting documentary filmmaking has had a profound impact on my journey as a filmmaker. The feedback, support, and recognition I received from both the festival organizers and the audience have been invaluable in shaping my growth and development in this field. It truly is a wonderful experience and the invaluable platform that CDoc has provided. I look forward to continued engagement with the festival and contributing to the documentary filmmaking community.”
Fred Farquhar
Creative Co-Director
‘What make a Local?’
WINNER: Audience Favourite Award