REDLAND students keen on filming or animation who want to help wildlife have the chance to win great prizes by entering the Cicada Awards.
Now in its second year, the Cicada Award, an award-winning project of Wildlife Queensland's Bayside Branch, seek short films with a big heart that depict the region's fauna, flora, or a particular conservation issue.
Wildlife Queensland's community science officer Alix Baltais said judges were looking for short films that inspire, touch the spirit, make people wonder, laugh or shed a tear.
"Through these films, particularly if the entrants offer solutions, we can help wildlife and provide hope for the future" he said.
Previously open to all primary and high school students who live in or attend school in the Redlands, the competition is now open to University and TAFE students across the SEQ region.
The Cicada Award offers great opportunities and great prize money.
An inaugural winner was Tatjana Trotter, together with then fellow Alexandra Hills High School student Paris Ormerod, who said they were thrilled to have their documentary style film chosen as the winning entry.
"As a volunteer for the Brisbane Clean-up Project it's devastating to see the amount of rubbish that is collected at every cleanup. I still enjoy filmmaking and the Cicada Awards gave me a platform to combine two things I'm passionate about; film and the environment," said Tatjana who is a university student and pleased the Cicada Awards has been expanded to include older students.
Entrants in this year's competition Emily McHenry and Alana Irving produced We all C.A.N: Conserve Aquatic Nature and are challenging others to enter the competition.
Competition details are available on http://branches.wildlife.org.au/bayside/ meetings.html#cicada