About

The Hunter's premiere student film showcase, Rolling HiIls Film Festival, is back underway in 2025 and we're looking forward to some incredible student work coming through once again this year. We are accepting entries all the way to the end of Term 3, with a special, red-carpet screening for students and their families at the historic James Theatre in  Week 2, Term 4, featuring special awards and prizes for the best films.

Filmmaking is a fantastic and engaging way to teach skills in STEM, visual and digital literacy, and collaborative creativity. It can provide an inspiring learning experience for high-potential and gifted students in the creative, academic and social-emotional domains, and forges a sense of inclusiveness and common purpose among a student film crew. Most of all, it gives our students a rare opportunity to tell their own stories, in their own voices, to a large and receptive audience.

Running since 2020, Rolling Hills has seen dozens of incredible submissions from schools in the Dungog District including Clarence Town PS, Dungog PS, Dungog HS, Glen William PS, Gresford PS, Martins Creek PS, Paterson PS, and Vacy PS. We have had tales of magic remotes, dinosaurs invading schools, secret agents, stolen chocolate, and mayhem brought on by singing 'Baby Shark'. We're opening up to even more schools this year and hoping to see even more fantastic ideas and student voice in 2025! You can check out previous submissions to the festival in the Films section of this website. 

We ask that films submitted be less than three minutes in length, with no copyrighted images or music. All students appearing in the films must have permission to publish, and last names of students should be omitted from the credits.

Please submit all films to lachlan.prior5@det.nsw.edu.au, and send an email if you have any questions or if you're having trouble getting your films over the finish line - we're always happy to lend a hand wherever possible. Films are due by Friday 26th September. 

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Best Film

• Best Actor / Actress

• Best Supporting Actor / Actress

• Best Ensemble Acting

• Best Sound

• Best Camerawork

• Best Editing

• Best Costumes

• Best Set Design

• Best Visual Effects

• Best Makeup

• Best Animated Film

• Best Documentary

• People's Choice Award

• Spirit of the Festival Award

The Rolling Hills Film Festival is an initiative of the Dungog District Community of Schools, proudly sponsored by Brimble Rail, Loveys IGA and Clarence Town Hardware . The members of the Film Festival Committee for 2025 are Ms Gillian Manning (DHS), Mr Lachlan Prior (VPS), Ms Sheridan Thomas (CTPS), Leane Senzamici (PPS) and Mr Michael Kelly (DHS). Get in touch if you'd like to help out in coordinating the festival or would like to offer donations or sponsorship!