Legendary Aussie actor and long-time Port Shorts Ambassador Stephen Curry will resume his host role for the 10 play showcase to support a festival he and fellow Festival Ambassador, Wolf Creek and Rogue Producer Matt Hearn, have taken to heart over the past five years.
“I mean let’s face it, who wouldn’t accept a trip to the tropics with one of your great mates to judge a film festival?” Curry said.
“But what me and Hearny found when we got up to Port Douglas for Port Shorts in 2015 was a really cool festival that put on a show of exceptional short films.
“We can’t wait to get back there every year, they can’t get rid of us, except when the festival clashes with COVID-19 lockdown.
“In the meantime we’re glad we get to share some of our favourites from the last five years because there’s some filmmakers featured, many of them Australian, who audiences deserve to hear a lot more about and 10 play is a great platform to achieve that.”
Hearn, whose company hotglue produced The Very Best Of Port Shorts for 10 play, has mentored several filmmakers he met at the festival and believes the future of filmmaking is in excellent hands.
“Good on Channel 10 for supporting these filmmakers by showing Australia what they’re capable of producing,” Hearn said.
“Each film featured moved us as judges in some way and hopefully the audience enjoys the journey as much as we have.”
Port Shorts Festival Director Ali George said the collaboration with 10 play was also a welcome boost for the local tourism industry hit hard by the financial impacts of COVID-19.
“We’re delighted Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree and Douglas Shire Council are supporting The Very Best Of Port Shorts on 10 play with a destination marketing campaign encouraging the 10 play audience to come up here and experience the tropics for themselves,” Ali said.
“After such a crazy year for everyone The Very Best Of Port Shorts on 10 play is a nice way to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome what will hopefully be a much brighter new year for the arts and tourism industries.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said the world’s oldest rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef had charmed many filmmakers wanting to capture the beauty of two World Heritage areas side by side.
“This collaboration with 10 play gives us the opportunity to reach a new audience of film lovers and encourage them to experience the destination that hosts Port Shorts,” he said.
TPDD Chief Executive Officer Tara Bennett agreed it was a great way to shine the spotlight on the destination.
“I am delighted to be involved in this collaboration to showcase our destination to a diverse audience via 10 Play and Port Shorts,” Ms Bennett said.
The Very Best Of Port Shorts is available on 10 play over the summer months. To check it out visit here.
