A young Broadmeadows local has had a whirlwind few weeks, seeing her short film on the big screen at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), as she won a film competition advocating for safer driving among young Victorians.
Cinema company Val Morgan and the Transport Accident Condition (TAC) combined forces for the fifth annual Split Second youth film competition.
Broadmeadows’ Sati Öcal, a 22-year-old, was named the winner, receiving a $5,000 cash prize and $70,000 production budget to bring her creative concept to life.
Following its premiere at ACMI, the film will be aired in cinemas across the state between October and November.
Ms Öcal’s comedic short film, Gadgets, was picked as the winning script from more than one hundred entrants and compares a car’s safety features to the alluring gadgets of a spy car.
Ms Öcal said that it was her love for storytelling that inspired her to get into film.
“I have vivid memories of making silly short movies with my sisters on my mum’s Nokia when I was little, and the enjoyment I got from coming up with all sorts of crazy plot lines while playing with my barbies and Legos,” she said.
“I’m honoured to be able to use art to encourage people my age to take road safety more seriously. I feel so fulfilled studying screenwriting and am very proud to have my work featured on this scale.
TAC chief executive Tracey Slatter said the competition fosters a culture where young people can become actively involved in our efforts towards creating a safer future on Victorian roads,” she said.
“This year, Split Second focused on raising awareness of the importance of vehicle safety among young drivers.”
