National theatre company Bell Shakespeare announced the winners of the inaugural Bell Shakespeare Shorts Festival at an online awards ceremony on 12 August.

The festival was open to primary and secondary school students Australia-wide, with students invited to make short films about or inspired by Shakespeare’s works. 

The Top Primary Film is Reimagining Romeo and Juliet by Caitlin Chung and Solomiia Koreniuk from Waitara Public School, NSW.

The Top Secondary Film is All the School's A Stage by Chris Tan of Cabramatta NSW.

The Excellence in Performance prize went to Cronulla Cooking School by Lilia Buhagiar, Piper Buhagiar, Georgia McLean and Daisy McLean of Caringbah South NSW.

The Excellence in Direction prize went to Lady Macbeth's Revenge by Inner West Youth Theatre, Annandale NSW.

Two Excellence in Storytelling prizes were awarded: to Her-Story by Grace Bowman from Toowoomba QLD; and Reimagining Romeo and Juliet by Caitlin Chung & Solomiia Koreniuk of Waitara Public School NSW.

The Creative Vision Prize went to Witches by Luis Arnet from Stafford Heights QLD; with The End by Katerina Reynolds of Blue Mountains Grammar School NSW named runner up in the category.

The Community Spirit Prize went to All the School's A Stage by Chris Tan of Cabramatta NSW.

The star-studded judging panel included Artistic Director Peter Evans, Lisa McCune, Kate Mulvany and Will McDonald.  

Bell Shakespeare Artistic Director Peter Evans said the company was thrilled with the number and quality of submissions to the festival in its first year.

“I want to thank and congratulate all 74 entrants to the festival from across Australia. All films engaged with Shakespeare’s language, characters and stories in engaging and inventive ways. The decision-making process was highly enjoyable and incredibly competitive," he said.

The winning films can be viewed at bellshakespeare.com.au