Melbourne WebFest

{{Short description|Australian web series festival}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} alt=A pink M and a dark blue W with extended arms that form a box around the logo|thumb|Logo for the WebFest, used since 2019 The '''Melbourne WebFest''' is an international web series festival based in Melbourne, Australia. It was the first of its kind in the country. It focuses on web series from around the world, with individual recognitions for genres including fantasy and science fiction, nonfiction, drama, comedy, and suspense.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Astle |first=Randy |date=2013-07-26 |title=The Essential Guide to Webfests |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/74875-the-essential-guide-to-webfests/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Filmmaker Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Panels on the pitching, production and marketing of web series also take place at the festival.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Brien |first=Chloe |date=2016-12-22 |title=The future is now: Melbourne WebFest 2016 |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&issn=03122654&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA473149243&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=abs |journal=Metro Magazine |language=English |issue=190 |pages=127–129}}</ref>

== History == The Melbourne WebFest was founded in 2013 by Steinar Ellingsen, Ashlee Thomas, Max Retro, Alexander Hipwell and Ingvill Oddsen in response to the development of web series in Australia. It was inspired by and is supported by the Los Angeles Web Series Festival. It was initially a one-day event targeted toward series producers, but became a three-day festival aimed at the general public by its second year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Simon Leo |date=2014-07-15 |title=WebFest puts internet video on the big screen |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-15/melbourne-webfest/5597310 |access-date=2022-10-27}}</ref>

In 2016, the awards introduced the Pitch Perfect event, a live pitching competition in partnership with ABC iview.<ref name=":0" />

== Awards == Awards include the Grand Jury Award for which the winner receives paid trips and entry to other international web series festivals, and the People's Choice award which gives a cash prize.<ref name=":0" /> The ABC has offered sponsored awards that give the winner direct licensing to the ABC iview platform.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karena |first=Cynthia |date=2015-07-08 |title=WebFest brings new media skills to public forum |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/webfest-brings-new-media-skills-to-public-forum-20150707-gi6zg2.html |access-date=2022-10-27}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://melbournewebfest.com/about/ Official website]

Category:Film festivals in Melbourne Category:Web series awards