Two Victorian filmmakers will bring their concepts to life after being named winners of this year’s road safety film competition.
The TAC and Allan Government say the program is designed to let emerging creatives craft messages that resonate with young drivers.
Melbourne’s Stacey Park and Shane Senanayake impressed judges with contrasting approaches that use cultural storytelling and humour to spotlight risky behaviours.
Each receives $5,000 in prize money and a $45,000 production budget to develop their films.
Films target speeding and seatbelt use
Stacey’s concept, Keep the Tempo, uses the rhythm and precision of Korean drumming to show how speeding disrupts flow and control.
The metaphor aims to make the risks of low-level speeding more relatable to younger audiences.
Shane’s film, Unusual Behaviours, leans on absurd humour by imagining a town where nobody wears pants.
The scenario highlights the flawed thinking behind not wearing a seatbelt and reinforces that seatbelts should never be optional.
Industry mentors to guide the next stage
Both filmmakers will receive mentorship from The Taboo Group and Truce Films.
Their films will be produced for screening in February 2025 as part of TAC’s youth road safety campaigns.
Minister for Roads Melissa Horne says the competition gives young people a platform to shape messages that speak directly to their peers.
She says initiatives like this help encourage safer behaviour on the road.
TAC CEO Tracey Slatter says the winning ideas will spark conversations and shift mindsets.
She says their creativity will help drive positive change among young Victorians.
Winner Shane Senanayake says the opportunity is beyond what he expected when entering.
He says working on a campaign of this scale is the chance of a lifetime for an emerging creative.
Winner Stacey Park says she is proud to bring cultural storytelling into public safety messaging.
She says the competition allows creativity to shape messages that genuinely connect with young people.
More information is available on the TAC Split Second competition website.