Student filmmakers from Wentworth Falls, Leura and Ellison public schools have made the director's cut for the annual 'Film By ... Invitation' film festival.
Just 18 schools will be represented at the film festival organised by the NSW Education Department, which is being livestreamed during Education Week, from August 3-7. Winners will be announced on August 7.
Ellison Public students Max Buchanan and brothers Liam and Ben Boys filmed a David Attenborough spoof at Yarramundi about global warming to get other kids to think about climate change.
"They thought that talking about the facts in a funny and entertaining way, would be the best way to get other kids to engage with the message," said Liam and Ben's mum Nikki Boys.
"Being included in the film festival was amazing," Max and Liam said. "Hundreds and thousands of people get to see films made by kids and we are very excited. We are very proud of what we have created."
At Wentworth Falls Public, two year four students created the drawn animation L'il Birdy, in their summer holidays. It's a funny story about a little bird looking for a worm to eat, but never having any luck.
"To make the film at home, they drew the bird, worm and animal animations on paper, then used a stop motion animation program to take successive photos," said relieving teacher librarian Lauren Halse.
"When they brought it back to school we added music and sound effects to finish it off. We are very excited to learn that it has been chosen to be included in the Education Week Film by Invitation competition."
And at Leura Public, using stop motion animation, one class of year four students spent a term making their film The Legend of Scissors, Paper, Rock during creative arts lessons.
The animation tells the origins of the scissors, paper and rock characters through their own epic battles until they meet each other in what will be the greatest battle of all time, said teacher Jacqui Crowe.
"The story is relatable to a wide range of audiences and tells this tale in a humorous way. We based our script around a fabulous book written by Drew Daywalt," she said.
Students took thousands of photos and used an app called Stop Motion to make the animation. They made all the props and characters using classroom materials.