TAFE NSW - Film and TV

03/06/2026

Worldbuilding and collective storytelling, the intersection of ancestral and artificial intelligence, and practical pathways for screen producers will be explored in the sixth AFTRS Digital Futures Summit, to be held later this month.

02/06/2026

The Invisible Hand That Saved the Galaxy 🎬✨

It’s a legendary piece of cinema history: "Star Wars" was saved in the edit. While George Lucas built the universe, Marcia Lucas gave it its heartbeat, its pacing, and its profound emotional grounding.

As an Oscar-winning editor, Marcia wasn’t just cutting film—she was structuralizing the magic. If you love the original trilogy, you love Marcia’s work.

🚀 Re-Engineering the Trench Run

The original rough cut of the Death Star assault was disjointed and flat. Marcia, alongside Richard Chew and Paul Hirsch, completely re-wrote the sequence in the editing bay:

The Ticking Clock: She spliced together disparate footage to create the illusion that the Death Star was seconds away from destroying the Rebel base. In the original script, the base was never in immediate danger!

The Tension: By cutting rapidly between Vader’s pursuit, the frantic cockpit chatter, and the countdown monitors, she turned a chaotic space battle into a masterclass in cinematic suspense.

❤️ The Emotional Compass

Marcia was famously George’s most honest critic, constantly reminding him: "If the audience doesn't care about the characters, it doesn't matter how fast the spaceships go."

Ben Kenobi’s Sacrifice: It was Marcia who fiercely advocated for Obi-Wan to die in his duel with Vader. She knew that if he survived, he'd have nothing to do in the third act—but his death would give Luke the ultimate emotional catalyst to trust the Force.

Keeping the Magic: George wanted to cut the "good luck" kiss between Luke and Leia before the chasm swing. Marcia fought to keep it, preserving a vital moment of pure cinematic fun.

🎬 Shaping the Trilogy

Her brilliance didn’t stop in 1977. She helped steer the emotional peaks of the entire original saga:

The Empire Strikes Back (1980): She stepped in uncredited to help tighten the third act, ensuring the devastating weight of Vader’s revelation landed perfectly.

Return of the Jedi (1983): As a lead editor, she masterfully balanced the incredibly complex, three-pronged climax between the forest of Endor, the fleet in space, and the emotional showdown in the Emperor’s throne room.

George Lucas gave us the Force, but Marcia Lucas taught us how to feel it. 🌌

02/06/2026

29/05/2026

Kellyville High School film students are rolling out the red carpet to showcase their potential Oscar contender. Duyen Nguyen reports

27/05/2026

The Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF) is announcing its final call for entries!

Whether you're a budding director, a storyteller with a camera, or a creator with a unique vision, the Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF) is your platform to step into the spotlight.

The festival is free to enter and open to all young people aged 15-24. This isn't just about polished blockbusters - we want to see your coursework, assessment projects, or that passion project you’ve been editing in your room.

Why get involved?

Selected entrants don’t just get a screening. They get access to the industry. If nominated, you’ll be invited to:

Special Industry Tours: Go behind the scenes in the industry.

Expert Workshops: Learn the craft from the best in the business.

The Big Night: Experience an Oscars®-inspired red carpet Award Ceremony to celebrate your work in style.

The Details

Deadline: Entries close 31 May 2026 (11:59 PM AEST).

The Festival: Nominees join us for two days of events from 3-4 July 2026.

Cost: 100% Free.

Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF) is free-to-enter and offers awards, industry events, and an Oscars®-inspired Award Ceremony. It is open to youth aged 15-24 years, and is here to find, celebrate, and empower Australia's next movie makers and creators.

25/05/2026

Nauru's first locally produced narrative film, 'Far End of the Sea', will premiere next month, showcasing contributions from Australian talent and creatives from the Pacific Island nation.

22/05/2026

HOW CURRY BARKER’S MICRO-BUDGET HORROR OBSESSION CAPTURED HOLLYWOOD'S ATTENTION.

Focus Features' latest horror hit, Obsession, continues to prove that massive budgets are no match for sharp cinematic vision. Written, directed, and edited by breakout filmmaker Curry Barker, the supernatural thriller was produced on a lean micro-budget estimated between $750,000 and $1 million.

After igniting intense industry buzz and selling out consecutive festival screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the Midnight Madness lineup, the film was acquired by Focus Features in a massive deal valued at over $15 million.

The film follows Bear (Michael Johnston), a shy music store worker who uses a supernatural "One Wish Willow" to make his childhood crush (Inde Navarrette) fall in love with him, unleashing a violent, unsettling nightmare.

Lean genre productions have historically delivered outsized results relative to their production investments. Following its wide theatrical release on May 15, 2026, Obsession has already surpassed $24 million at the global box office while maintaining a stellar critical score.

Barker's transition from making under-$1,000 YouTube horror concepts like Milk & Serial to commanding theater screens nationwide reflects a major structural shift in modern independent cinema.

Follow Film Directors for more.

21/05/2026

21/05/2026