Reelife 2006 (ATOM Study Guide)

Reelife 06 is a selection of fifteen short (2–10 minute) films from the Reelife Short Film Festival that is designed to give young Australians aged fifteen to twenty-five the chance to tell stories, reveal points of view and promote issues and ideas.

Are generation Y really the generation that chase no rainbows? Do they know the difference between globalisation and global warming? Are they interested in more then just the latest Paris and Lindsay stoush?

Reelife believes Australian youth are full of great ideas and opinions, and provide a hugely successful platform to share them with as many people as possible.

Reelife was established by Vibewire Inc. – a multi-faceted youth media and arts organisation run entirely by young people (16–30). Vibewire is built around the vision of an Australian society with significantly greater levels of youth community engagement and media-literacy and, ultimately, a more informed and participatory public debate about the issues and challenges that confront us all.

The Reelife Short Film Festival is aimed at Australia's youth, and unlike festivals that reward filmmakers for slick effects and gimmicky endings, Reelife encourages films with strong ideas and a knack for innovative storytelling.

The collection of fifteen films selected cover a variety of ideas and themes, in a variety of styles. They include drama, comedy, documentaries, animation and 'message' films.

Reelife 06 is an excellent and practical classroom resource for stimulating creative ideas in English, and for film analysis skills.

It can also be used to explore the issue of bullying in school settings.