Filmmaker Arman Merchant has created a short film about Parramatta's food culture, commissioned by Diversity Arts Australia. Titled Flavours of Parramatta, the film uses cinematic visuals to present the area's culinary diversity. Merchant, an award-winning cinematographer and director based in Sydney, said the project aimed to represent diversity through an authentic point of view. The film was made through the Creative Pathways Parramatta program, which supports artists from diverse backgrounds. It has been completed and colour-graded for social media distribution.
Sydney filmmaker Renee Kypriotis has been selected for the PlayLab Films Creators Lab, a ten-day residency in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, led by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. Fifty filmmakers take part, each developing and shooting a short film from a shared theme. Kypriotis says the lab costs €7,900 before travel, and she is seeking support to cover it. She previously made the short films Concrete and RAGE, and moved to Athens earlier this year to reconnect with her Greek heritage.
A filmmaking program between Indonesian and regional Queensland universities is using horror to bring creators together. University of Southern Queensland lecturer Katherine Putnam says a shared language of fear has helped break down language barriers. The team filmed short horror movies in Indonesia before finishing in Toowoomba. The $60,000 program is funded by the university and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Regional filmmaker Amy Parry says concern is growing about state government cuts to Screen Queensland funding.
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Actor and director Mark Wahlberg says artificial intelligence has a place in filmmaking if it is used the right way. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, he said AI could help enhance the stadium setting in his upcoming Pete Rose biopic, in which he stars. He rejected the idea of generating a script with AI and making a film without real actors. Wahlberg also said he would be interested in an AI replica of his likeness carrying on his legacy, including in his animated series Ted, and that storytelling should remain central to filmmaking.
A filmmaking family from Braybrook has had three films selected as finalists for the 2026 SmartFone Flick Fest, known as SF3. Tez Frost, along with his children Alexis and Charlie, will see their works screened at the Sydney Opera House on 1 November. Alexis and Charlie are finalists in the SF3 Kids section, while Tez's short film No. 08. has been chosen for the Gala Final category. Tez, a former Disney screenwriter and Guinness World Record breaking filmmaker, previously won the Best AI Film award at the festival. He said making films together has become a family activity.
A hands-on workshop called The Narrative Lab will run at the Brimbank Community and Civic Centre in Sunshine on Saturday 24 October, from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Facilitated by the Beginning Project, it will teach young people storytelling skills and how to use digital media to shape how their communities are seen and heard. Topics include practical digital storytelling techniques and the role of storytelling in community representation. Tickets cost $10 and include lunch, with support available for those facing financial hardship.
Illawarra filmmaker Tahlia Crinis is in post-production on Money Mama, a short comedy-drama she wrote during early motherhood. The film follows a mother who loses her job and turns to adult content creation. Crinis missed last year's Tropfest deadline after the demands of having a newborn, but kept the script. Production began in September, and the team aims to submit the film to Tropfest in December. Crinis also stars in the film alongside her daughter and several actors.
Ben Affleck has gone viral for his detailed knowledge of artificial intelligence, neural networks, and machine learning, showcased in recent interviews. The actor, who sold his AI filmmaking startup to Netflix, discussed his technical expertise, including writing Python scripts and understanding complex AI concepts. He also addressed concerns about AI, focusing on practical issues like education and responsible use rather than existential threats.
