Australia’s first drone and action film festival, blue2blue, will debut at the Avoca Beach Picture Theatre from April 1.
Blue2blue is an Australian based international film festival designed for filmmakers who are utilising the new technologies of drone and sports action cameras. This is the first festival of its type in Australia and blue2blue creator and director, Mr Martin Ashley Jones said it was exciting to be able to offer film makers the opportunity to showcase their films and stories to the world.
Blue2blue submissions opened on December 14 and entries have poured in from across the globe including Germany, Switzerland, Norway, the USA, Mauritius and Australia. The festival holds a distinct point of difference from current Australian film festivals as the exciting challenge is for film makers to only use drones and/or action cameras to tell their story.
The festival is being broken into five categories: documentary; sports action; fiction; student (under 16), which are films that have to be eight minutes and under; and, music video, which is four minutes and under.
Blackmagic Design have come on board as blue2blue’s major sponsor and have donated a copy of their Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 12 Studio editing software packages valued at $1,500 to the winner of each category.
Blue2blue has also partnered with Filmfreeway, an international festival submission site with a target audience of over 2,000 festivals and 35,000 subscribers. Australian wingsuit pilot, base jumper and film maker, Nate Jones is blue2blue’s festival ambassador and Mr Ashley Jones said blue2blue was lucky to find such an experienced drone user as an ambassador.
“Nate is currently ranked third fastest at the World Wingsuit League Championships in China and has been using drone and action cameras. “Nate has a collection of extraordinary and exquisitely shot footage, and we are stoked to have him on board.”
According to Mr Ashley Jones, a compilation film of the finalists, the development of the festival and the awards night will be produced, and blue2blue has had strong interest from two international airlines to add the film to their in-flight viewing programs. “This is our inaugural year and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic festival.
“It is my intention for this festival to grow from strength to strength to showcase our beautiful region, both nationally and internationally, and to support local talent, culture and business,” Mr Ashley Jones said.
Media release, Mar 2, 2016 Martin A Jones, blue2blue festival