Entertainment
13 November, 2026
High school student hopes film is not ‘Just a Dream’
TWO Cairns high school students have been nominated for the inaugural Essential Screen Skills Awards, recognising emerging filmmaking talent from across Queensland.
Jade Gubb from Trinity Bay State High School has been nominated for best animation for ‘Just a Dream’, while Layla Thompson from Bentley Park College is in the running for best direction for ‘Billy Clark’.
The awards, to be held in Brisbane on 13–14 November 2026, will recognise the achievements of students in years 10 to 12 across filmmaking categories, including direction, performance, animation, sound, editing, production design and cinematography.
Essential Screen Skills received more than 100 submissions and 22 nominees were selected from 14 high schools across Cairns, Mackay, the Gold Coast, Logan, Toowoomba and Brisbane.
Essential Screen Skills director Laura Clelland said the inaugural awards would provide an opportunity to recognise young filmmakers and connect them with the screen industry.
“We are excited to launch the Essential Screen Skills Awards, championing the next generation of talented filmmakers from across Queensland.”
The two-day program will feature an industry development day with workshops, mentoring sessions and networking opportunities, followed by a red-carpet awards ceremony at Event Cinemas Brisbane City.
The best direction category, featuring Bentley Park College’s Layla Thompson, is presented by SAE University College and will be judged by Mairi Cameron, Michael O’Halloran and Kristina Chapman.
The best animation category, featuring Jade Gubb of Trinity Bay State High School, will be judged by Lachlan Pendragon, Ricard Cusso, Samuel Leighton-Dore and Kate Derrick.
The awards also recognise achievements through the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry Schools project, with Charlotte Frelicot from Bremer State High School named the Screen and Media Gateway Student of the Year.
Good Shepherd Lutheran College has been named the Screen and Media Gateway School of the Year.
The inaugural event will bring together students, families, educators and screen professionals, with nominees participating in industry development activities ahead of the awards ceremony.
The winners of the filmmaking categories will be recognised at the Brisbane ceremony on 14 November 2026.
