Entertainment
18 October, 2026
Untapped talent emerge in Understory movies
A RECORD 71 submissions from eight schools across Far North Queensland have highlighted the region’s emerging filmmaking talent, with 25 finalist films selected for this year’s Understory High Film Festival.
The fourth annual event brought together student filmmakers from Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands and Townsville, with the screening and awards presentation scheduled for 9 October at Tanks Arts Centre’s Tank 5.
Students in years 7 to 12 submitted short films across genres, from horror to stories exploring identity and self-discovery.
Fresh Basil Films director and Understory High judge Kate Boylan-Ascione said the entries showcased the diversity of young filmmakers’ perspectives.
“I loved seeing the diverse perspectives of young people reflected in their ideas and visual storytelling,” Ms Boylan-Ascione said.
“The films ranged from suspenseful horror to poetic self-discovery, showcasing the spectrum of themes and subject matter that are important to this generation.”
Ms Boylan-Ascione said the initiative also helped young people explore opportunities within the screen industry.
“You cannot be what you cannot see,” she said.
“We have huge amounts of untapped talent in this region that needs to be exposed to creative pathways.
“Understory High is the first touchpoint for many young people to connect with the local industry, share their stories with a live audience and see what working professionally in film could look like after school.”
Fellow judge Jas Shennan said the standard of filmmaking was continuing to improve.
“The story always comes first, but we were also looking at camerawork, editing, sound quality and the thoughtful use of music,” Mr Shennan said.
Finalists represented the following schools: Trinity Bay State High School, Cairns State High School, St Andrew’s Catholic College, St Augustine’s College, Bentley Park College, Malanda State High School, Southern Cross Catholic College and Redlynch State College.
The event involved Cairns Regional Council, Jonathan M. Shiff Productions and Bang Media.
Winning films will also be considered for inclusion in the flagship Understory Film Festival, scheduled for 21 November at Tanks Arts Centre.
