Join the world leaders in smartphone filmmaking, SF3, for a free 3 part masterclass series presented by Sydney Water in the Illawarra.

Saturday 22nd March, Saturday 5th April & Saturday 14th June, 2025.

Across 3 sessions, participants will be guided on all aspects of smartphone filmmaking, cinematography, screenwriting and film festival distribution by award-winning filmmakers and educators. Participants will be encouraged to pitch their own film ideas in lesson 2 which they will then shoot with guidance from the SF3 team. On June 14th, all films made during these sessions will be screened at a free public event.

Presented by Sydney Water, participants will be guided to make films about water - interpreted as they like. For eg. you could make a film about the water cycle, about water conservation, about the role that water plays in your life, or about a world without water, or anything else you can think of. We will write these films in the 2nd session.

These workshops are for all ages, with a class for under 18s followed by a class for adults. The screening will be a celebration of all films.

All levels of experience are encouraged to attend - all you need is your imagination plus a phone or tablet.

The sessions will be taught by award winning filmmakers and the SF3 Team.

Saturday 22nd March is a Cinematography and Smartphone Filmmaking Workshop with local AACTA Award Winning DP, Jess Milne, and Founder of SF3 and filmmaker, Angela Blake. Come and learn everything you need to know about cinematography: from shot types, shot sizes, camera movements, framing and every aspect of shooting your film plus all the tips and techniques of turning your phone or tablet into a professional movie camera.

Under 18s - 1:30pm-3:00pm

Adults - 3:00pm - 5:00pm at The Coledale Community Hall.

Saturday 5th April is a Screenwriting Workshop with award-winning writer/director Holly Trenaman and SF3 Founder and Screenwriter, Angela Blake. Come and learn everything you need to know to write a successful screenplay then pitch your film ideas to the class, get feedback, and leave with a finished script/strong idea for your short film on water.

Under 18s - 1:30pm-3:00pm

Adults - 3:00pm - 5:00pm at The Coledale Community Hall.

Saturday 14th June is a Film Festival Strategy Masterclass with local Producer Extraordinaire and Chair of Screen Illawarra, Nick Bolton and Angela Blake. Nick will teach participants how to navigate the complex world of film festivals; from how to enter, what festivals to target and how to strategise and maximise your chances of not only getting into film festivals but winning awards in those festivals.

This will be followed by a FREE Public Screening of all films made during this workshop series. Everyone is invited.

Film Festival Strategy Masterclass - 3:00pm - 5:00pm

FREE Public screening - 5:00pm-7:00pm

Both at The Coledale Community Hall.

All classes are free but you must reserve a ticket for each event.

All workshops and the screening are presented with the support of Sydney Water and in partnership with Screen Illawarra and the South Coast Writers Centre.