Lights, camera, action! Showdown chooses Nambour set for filming

From left, Showdown Co-Founder Dan Munday, third assistant director Jaymee Sudrajat, actors Darren Gilshenan and Anna McMahon, line producer Eve Donohue, producer Janneke Williamson, director of photography Andrew Maccoll, and director Ryan Neil Butler.

Founded by Nambour High graduates, Jon Coghill (Powderfinger), and Dan Munday (US Survivor), Sunny Coast Showdown is presented by the Bendigo Community Bank–Tewantin, Cooroy, and Marcoola, and is now in its third year.

“The aim of Showdown is to increase the production capacity of the Sunny Coast in order to create a lucrative and sustainable film industry,” Dan said.

“Showdown produces 6 short films and documentaries, submitted by the community, and led by industry professionals who mentor and train up-and-coming filmmakers and crew.”

Last week the crew were filming “Stiffs”, a mockumentary in the vein of “The Office” and “Parks and Rec”, which was written by award winning writer and actor Stephen Walker.

The two day shoot took place at the Eddie De Vere building, in the Sunshine Coast Council chambers in Nambour.

“There were 60 crew and volunteers, from camera operators and directors, to costume designers and makeup artists,” said Dan.

“I want to extend a huge thankyou to Tiff Bower and Matty Johnson from the council for securing the location.”

The films will premiere as part of the Showdown Showcase at The Station SC in Birtinya on June 22nd.

• You can find out more about Sunny Coast Showdown at www.sunnycoastshowdown.com.au.

Local film festival goes global

The Sunshine Coast’s best film and TV talent will be on show at the Showdown Showfest film festival in June.

The two-day red-carpet event on June 21 and 22 will premiere six winning short films, locally-produced by the Sunny Coast Showdown team and presented by Bendigo Bank Community Bank, as they compete for the festival’s prize gong, the Gold Yewwy award.

The event will also premiere director Chris Sun’s acclaimed comedy short film, Loophole, starring Hugh Parker (The Family Law, Elvis) and Libby Munro (Troppo, Wild Woman) and the Hello Sunshine ‘Light, Camera, Lunch!’ story-telling event will host Showdown co-founders and Showdown Winner Emma Morgan.

The Showdown Showfest film festival is an offshoot of the Sunny Coast Showdown–a not-for-profit film event that provides mentoring, funding and support to local filmmakers and helps them produce their film and TV projects. It also provides training and opportunity for more than 100 local cast and crew.

Showdown productions this year attracted some of Australia’s best actors in Darren Gilshenan (Harrow, Colin from Accounts), Rhys Muldoon (House Husbands, Bay of Fires), Kate Atkinson (Wentworth, Underbelly), Claire Weller Price (Boy Swallows Universe, Apples Never Fall), James Patrick Reed (Blue Heelers, Mission: Impossible) and Rory Williamson (Home and Away, Paper Giants).

Lilliana Bowrey (Netflix’s hit series, Surviving Summer) is being touted as the next-big-thing and plays the lead in the romantic thriller, Lured.