TAFE NSW students are on their way to launching international careers in the screen industry after producing a film that will be entered into one of the world’s largest short film festivals. 

The short film, titled ‘New Year’s Eve’ is being produced by TAFE NSW Loftus Screen and Media students to enter into Tropfest 2021 and saw a section of the campus transformed into a graveyard for the shoot. 

Up to 8,000 jobs, a year could be created in the film industry thanks to a $400 million Federal Government incentive to attract film and television productions to Australia, both now and over the next seven years.

TAFE NSW Screen and Media Teacher Nicolas Blesynki said “Part of gaining industry-relevant skills and experience at TAFE NSW is adapting to challenges that may arise on a real-life set such as unexpected rain and filming at night, which made it technically much more difficult.  

“The students were set the challenge of transforming a script written by a TAFE NSW alumnus into a screenplay that could be entered into Tropfest and they have done a great job.”  

‘New Year’s Eve’ is a horror/comedy/thriller about four high school students who meet up five years after high school. One of them is accidentally killed and the others try to conceal their crime by burying him in the bush only to discover the dead do not always stay dead.  

Padstow local and TAFE NSW Student Emily Pettit was a camera operator on the shoot and said the film has given her invaluable practical experience.  

“I have always been a creative person and had an interest in the film industry, so after leaving high school in year 11 I enrolled the Certificate IV in Screen and Media.  

“I then went on to do my Diploma in Screen and Media where I worked on ‘New Year’s Eve’ which was a great experience and has given me a lot of insight into where I see myself in the industry.  

“The actors said it was the most professional student film they had worked on and that was a credit to the whole team; the footage looks really good and I’m excited to see the finished film.” 

Many courses for people looking to get into the entertainment industry fall under the NSW Skills List. The NSW Government's Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Scholarships mean that students can get the skills they need to get the job they want, and their course fees will be covered.  

The Certificate IV in Screen and Media is open for enrolments at TAFE NSW Loftus, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au.  

Media contact: Kellie Dillon, R/Media and Communications Business Partner, kellie.dillon7@tafensw.edu.au, 0408 006 866.