An interstudio screen festival and competition is being planned between two acting studios, one in Tauranga and the other in Wellington.

Young actors from both regions will create, perform in and help produce original short films, with the completed projects to be screened and judged by an industry professional.

“Our studio is collaborating with Wellington’s Rātā Studios, one of New Zealand’s leading screen acting studios, to create what we believe is a first-of-its-kind interstudio screen festival,” Bay of Plenty Actors Studio founder Tanya Horo said.

Horo, who also founded talent agency T.M. Horo Management, runs film and television acting classes in Tauranga. Past students have gone on to roles in Shortland Street, East of Eden, The Gone, as well as television commercials and feature films.

“What excites us most is that the project introduces a spirit of friendly competition into an industry that is already highly competitive,” Horo said.

“It gives young creatives the opportunity to collaborate, create original work and gain a deeper understanding of the dedication, resilience and teamwork required to succeed in the screen industry.”

Esmee Myers, 12, practising in front of the camera at BOPAS.

Horo said the festival is designed to celebrate emerging talent while giving Bay of Plenty actors the opportunity to connect with fellow young creatives and experience the filmmaking process from concept to screen.

“I am super excited for our short film competition,” Rātā Studios Wellington director Joanne Rogers said.

“Short films provide a critical place to practise, practise, practise your craft — the ultimate creative playground.

“It’s going to be a fast-paced, collaborative environment where participants can experiment with genre, hone their technical skills and discover their cinematic voice,” Rogers said.