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. In 2024, an incredible 22 films were submitted! Heading into its fourth year, LOCALS has become a beloved Festival fixture.
Filmmakers of all experience levels are invited to submit non-fiction works up to six minutes in any style or genre.
Club CDoc supports the local community by offering hands-on filmmaking workshops facilitated by industry professionals in the lead up to the submission portal.
Previous facilitators have included filmmakers Tony Jackson, Leonie Van Eyk, Bergen O’Brien, Kyla Brettle, Kate Pappas, Sam Dinning and Rob Buttery.
For more information about our upcoming workshops, please head here.
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.
LOCALS is a program showcasing regionally made work at the Castlemaine Documentary Festival.
Whether you are an experienced producer, a first time filmmaker, or somewhere in-between, we would love to offer you the opportunity to share your work with our film loving audience.
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 – and the top two chosen will each receive 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: 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
Why don’t you want me to submit my 2gig film file on the entry form?
We will email you to ask you to submit the film file after we have received your submission form, viewed the link and know the film is not going to be re-edited. It’s a lot easier for our team to assess films via a link than each of us having to download large files.
Will you email me a confirmation of my submission?
Yes, we will email you within 7 days. If you haven’t heard from us within that timeframe, then assume something got lost in transit and contact us at locals@cdocff.com.au
Can you give me advice on filmmaking?
We run yearly Filmmaking Workshops to help those entering LOCALS. We can also give limited advice on your project while it’s in development/production and offer feedback on how to finesse your film, or get it down to 6-minutesin length.
Do I get free tickets if my film is selected for the screening?
Yes! We give you two complimentary tickets and invite you to say a few words about the film on the night.
Do you offer a prize for the best film?
On the night of the screening the audience votes for their favourite film. We are able to offer two DaVinci Resolve studio packages, valued at $500, to 1st and 2nd place, but really, everyone who screens their work at LOCALS is a winner!
I have an awesome film but it’s longer than 6-minutes…
Most films look and flow better with a bit of ‘slash and burn’ – and if your film is close ‘to time’, then we can offer advice on what to cut. If your film is longer form and perfect for our Castlemaine Documentary Festival audience, then email us and we can talk about potentially screening it elsewhere in the festival.
Does the film have to have been made in the past year, as with other film festivals?
No, it can have been made any time.
I have a question that is not answered here…
No Problem, drop us an email at locals@cdocff.com.au.
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