NPS MedicineWise has partnered with American Express Openair Cinemas to host a national short film competition to deliver the critical message about the global threat of antibiotic resistance, reiterating a warning issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Budding filmmakers and enthusiasts are encouraged to start storyboarding concepts on the theme of ‘Preserve the Power’– depicting the impacts of bacteria becoming resistant to the power of antibiotics.
“Emerging filmmakers, creatives, videographers and vloggers are invited to use their cinematic prowess to raise awareness about this global health threat. We are excited by the challenge this presents to local talent and how their storytelling techniques can inspire the community to take action.” American Express Openair Cinemas Director of Cinemas, Will Sparks commented.
Sparks explained that to meet the growing call on home soil for building awareness of this critical issue, American Express Openair Cinemas and NPS MedicineWise are offering a prize pool of $10,000 in cash prizes for the two winning films which best convey this significant message. The competition will be split into two categories; individuals under 18 and Australian residents over the age of 18. Each 30-second short film will be captured on a smartphone or camera.
“Through the partnership with American Express Openair Cinemas we want to highlight the serious consequences of antibiotic misuse to the public. We want to remind them that bacteria are rapidly becoming resistant to all the antibiotic we have, but there are simple actions they can take to stop the spread of antibiotic resistance. Without action, we risk losing the power of this precious medical resource forever.” NPS MedicineWise CEO Dr Lynn Weekes commented.
Dr Weekes said that NPS MedicineWise has helped to promote this critical issue for many years and educate Australians about the significance of handling antibiotic with care. The American Express Openair Cinemas short film competition offers Australians the opportunity to join the fight against antibiotic resistance. Dr Weekes went on to explain that The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, commissioned by the UK Prime Minister in 2014 estimates that if antibiotic resistance continues to spread, the problem will cause 10 million deaths globally by 2050. Australia has one of the highest antibiotic prescription rates globally, with over 30 million prescriptions issued annually.

Entrants have until 13 November 2017 to create a 30 second short film that explores any genre, be it horror, comedy, documentary, musical or drama. A shortlist of top films will be aired at the eight American Express Openair Cinemas locations across Australia in front of thousands of people. Each 30 second short film will be judged by a panel of industry experts, with winners announced at the Bondi Beach activation on Wednesday 28 February 2018.
For full submission requirements and more information