So this year the audience was the judge in selecting the winners from the 13 films screened. The selection of winners is a broad cross section of both genre (comedy and drama) and location (Oz, Singapore, Ireland).

The winners this year were:

o First prize $1000 (under 10 minutes): Makeover (seven minute comedy by Don Percy of Victoria).  This is a slightly twisted romantic-comedy about the intricacies of elderly dating. Makeover follows a senior trying to pass himself off as a young man. 

“The film is about our obsession with maintaining a youthful appearance,” said Mr Percy.

“And it asks the question: is it really necessary?” 

Writer/director/producer Don Percy was a prize winner in the 2010 FFF with Inanimate Objects.

o First prize $1000 (under 30 minutes): The Amber Amulet (23 minute drama by Matthew Moore of NSW). It is the story of a superhero, a beagle, an amber amulet and the potential that is locked inside all of us. Making the 23 minute short film The Amber Amulet started when Director Matthew Moore's wife Genevieve Hegney (who stars in the film) read the novella of the same name by Craig Silvey. 

"I think the most successful thing about our film is we managed to adapt a beautiful story from a novella to a short film, and managed to maintain the tone and heart of the story. Craig Silvey loved the film. That was the most satisfying." 

Moore's short film Julian was Winner of the 2012 FFF. 

"I am so grateful to have supporters like Forster Film Festival," said director Matthew Moore. 

"The biggest challenge with a short film is raising the money to make it."

o Second prize $200 (under 10 minutes): Date (a seven minute comedy by Katherine Marmion from Western Australia). A film about lovable Liz who is bumbling and stumbling her way through the world wide web of love.

o Second prize $200 (under 30 minutes): Gift (eight minute drama by Daniel Yam from Singapore). A son confronts the resentment towards his father only to realize his true intentions.

o Third prize $100 (under 10 minutes): Black Hole (three minute comedy by Philip Sansom, UK). A sleep deprived office worker photocopies a Black Hole late one night.

o Third prize $100 (under 30 minutes): Buskers (14 minute drama by Ian Power of Ireland). An Irish lad sings in the street and begs in the train station to support himself. Guest vocal by Bono.

The remaining seven films each received $50 with festival recognition and Winner laurel.

"Thanks to Great Lakes Community Resources support, each year the $3000 door takings is distributed among the filmmakers," said Festival director Greg Smith. 

"The short films shown at the FFF are creative, original, and completely out of the box. The local audience is very appreciative of this freshness. Every one of the 13 short films shown this year was voted as festival winner by more than one audience voter."

Festival winners are showing at Pacific Palms Community Centre on January 3 and Great Lakes Library on January 19.