Industry Workshops & Panels
REEL Film Festival, Geelong. THESE EVENTS HAVE ENDED. Stay tuned for the 2027 REEL Film Festival.
Tuesday 3rd March | 6:30pm | $20 | Eden Oak
Festival Opening – Headline Event for Screen Creators
Hollywood to Australia: Editing and Directing in Independent Film
MC: Hugh Nairn – Over 35 years’ experience in advertising and screen production
The Shoestring Solution: How “Kenny” Rewrote the Rules of Independent Film | Clayton Jacobson – Director of Kenny & Brothers’ News
Women’s Voices in Cinema & Global Ocean Stories | Ella Bourne – Actor (LA Actor Awards: Best Voice) & Director of Awoke (California Film Festival: Best Environmental Film)
From Cannes to Sundance: Inside the Edit Room with a World-Class Storyteller | Jarrah Gurrie -Editor for Madonna, Ricky Martin & Jennifer Lopez; and award-winning shorts screened at Sundance.
4th March Panel | 6.30pm | $20 | Eden Oak
From Script to Screen – Story, Stunts and Streaming
What does it really take to get a project made — and seen — in today’s screen industry? This panel brings together an award-winning writer, an experienced film distributor, and an international stunt coordinator to unpack the journey from development to production to marketplace.
Miranda Nation – Writer & Director (Playing Gracie Darling, Undertow)
Warwick Sadler – Stunt Coordinator (The Matrix, Superman Returns, double for Pierce Brosnan)
Leslie Morris – Film Distributor
Covering story development for streamers, distribution realities, and high-stakes on-set logistics, this session offers practical insights for filmmakers navigating today’s evolving screen landscape.
Saturday 7th March | 11 am – 12.30pm | FREE | Holiday Inn
Breaking In, Standing Out: Navigating Careers in Film
Presented by Esther Coleman-Hawkins, the CEO of Screen Careers, backed by 20 years of experience at the BBC, ABC, Seven, and SBS.
This practical 90-minute session demystifies how people actually get jobs in the film and screen industry.
Whether you’re aiming to work in front of the camera, behind the scenes, or build your own content career, this session breaks down how hiring really works, why credits matter, and how to turn the old saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” into something you can actively use.
You’ll leave with clear, realistic insights into pathways into the industry and practical next steps you can take straight away to start landing work.
Thursday 12th March | 6:30pm | $20 | GMHBA Head Office
Industry Pioneers. Modern Visionaries.
A Masterclass in Tech and Talent.
Julie Peters – 52-year career in 30+ jobs. She joined the ABC in 1971, when television was still in b&w and she was an audio assistant on the first episode of Countdown! Being trans made all these roles more difficult.
Jesse Samos Leaman – Writer-Director whose Spanish heritage and personal experiences help shape his commitment to telling authentic stories and amplifying underrepresented voices.
David Greenwood OAM -David is the co-owner and Managing Director of CentreStage, a theatre company that has become a creative powerhouse in the region.
This event will be held at GMHBA Head Office, 60 Moorabool Street, Geelong and is proudly supported by Centre Stage.
Sunday 15th March | 2.30pm | $20 | Eden Oak
Headline Event for Actors & Filmmakers.
Special Guest: Damian Walshe-Howling in conversation with Angie Hilton
The Actor’s Instinct & the Director’s lens.
Damian Walshe-Howling – Australian Actor with a career spanning decades across TV, film and theatre. Standout performances in Underbelly, Janet King and Blue Heelers. AFI Award Winner.
Damian is celebrated for his depth, intensity and commitment to craft. Alongside his screen work, he is a passionate mentor and acting coach, supporting emerging performers to build sustainable, long-term careers in the industry.
MC: Angie Hilton – Creator and host of Destination Happiness TV series, along with more than 20 years’ experience as a singer and television presenter.
Don’t miss this event!
Wednesday 25th March | 6.30pm | $20 | Eden Oak
The Intentional Filmmaker
Merging award-winning scripts with eco-stock strategies.
Felicity Bolitho – Award winning script writer. Years honing her storytelling skills have culminated in her crafting unique and engaging stories for screen.
Five years ago Michael and Tim joinied forces and founded Grassland Films:
Michael Portway – an acclaimed filmmaker whose directorial work has been screened at renowned film festivals, including the Berlinale and the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Tim Brown – an award-winning ecologist-turned-filmmaker. He is passionate about combining his love of the environment with filmmaking to create positive change for the natural world.
We’ll be talking about protecting ecosystems when filming in sensitive environments.
And if you do happen have some great B-roll footage – how can you pitch it to the likes of the BBC or ABC?
All important – drones – what you need to know about CASA licensing and compliance – don’t hit the field without it!
Writers, filmmakers, documentary filmmakers, join us for an invaluable session where you’ll be able to ask those burning questions!