The VCE Season of Excellence team at the VCAA organises and facilitates a panel of Media teachers from metropolitan and regional Government, Catholic and Independent Schools to view and shortlist Top Screen applications.

The Curriculum Manager for VCE Media oversees the panel, ensuring all work is considered fairly and represents best practice according to curriculum. The VCE Season of Excellence team have no input into which films are selected.

After all applications have been viewed and shortlisted, the selection panel meets one final time to select the final program. Factors such as balance, length and copyright status can influence which films are included in the final selection.

VCE Media films and animations selected for Top Screen are also showcased as part of the Top Designs exhibition at Melbourne Museum alongside other VCE Media production forms.

Selection criteria

Works selected must:

• achieve an A+ or A on the School-assessed Task (moderated score)
• be appropriate for public screening
• provide evidence of copyright clearance and/or citation for all non-original material used
• be accompanied by an Authentication Record Form (VCE studies), signed by the student and their teacher

Works are selected that:

• are accompanied by an exemplary:
  • research portfolio
  • production experiments with accompanying documentation
  • a pre-production plan
  • production notes documenting post-production, feedback and distribution
• demonstrate an understanding of all stages of the media production process through development, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution
• demonstrate a high level of critical, creative and reflective thinking to develop, refine and resolve the media production
• demonstrate an understanding of media codes and conventions, materials and technologies used to develop, resolve and refine the media production

Each year, the VCAA awards Top Screen Jury Prizes and the People's Choice Award to recognise filmmaking talent and encourage further development of skills and passion. The Awards are generously supported by Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) and ACMI.

Jury Prize

Congratulations to the following Top Screen 2025 filmmakers, whose work was selected by a panel of expert jurors.

• Winner: Alex Feehan from St Kevin’s College for the film Survivor
• 1st runner-up: Mia Sattler from Mount Lilydale Mercy College for the animation Where Did I Come From
• 2nd  runner-up: Tadhg Sheehan from Westbourne Grammar School for the film Off the Record

These Jury Prize winners are invited to join the MIFF Schools Youth Jury for 2025.

People's Choice Award

The People’s Choice Award recognises the films with the most audience votes across in-cinema screenings.

This will be announced in May, following the conclusion of the Top Screen program.

ACMI is located at Fed Square, Melbourne, on Flinders St, between Hosier Lane and Swanston St. ACMI has two entrances: one on Flinders Street, and the other in Fed Square in the cobblestoned plaza.

Public Transport
ACMI is accessible via train, tram and bus. The museum is located in Fed Square, which is opposite Flinders Street train station.

Parking
Paid parking is available at the Fed Square carpark, located on the Russell Street Extension or via the second entrance off Batman Ave. There is also a Wilson Parking at 172/192 Flinders St, which is directly opposite the Flinders Street entrance.

ACMI welcomes all visitors and offers access services that may improve your experience at the museum. For further information about access at ACMI go to the museum’s Accessibility page.

Wheelchair Access

 

ACMI is fully wheelchair accessible. Accessible lifts are located in a number of places across the Museum. The nearest accessible lift to the Top Screen cinema is located between the Tickets & Information desk and the entrance to The Story of the Moving Image exhibition.

Hearing devices

 

ACMI cinemas are fitted with assistance hearing devices.

Large Print

 

Large Print PDF versions of the Top Screen program will be available once the program is finalised in mid-February. This can be enlarged to suit your visibility requirements. Please print out a copy before you attend the Screening. Also you can choose the Read Aloud software option to convert the text into spoken word, to hear a description of the short films before you attend. Please email seasonofexcellence@education.vic.gov.au to request the program in either PDF or Microsoft Word format.

Service Animals

Guide dogs and other registered assistance dogs are welcome at ACMI.

For more information about venue accessibility, visit the ACMI accessibility webpage.

Films and podcasts

The following resources were produced with past Top Screen filmmakers by previous State Reviewer for Media, Brett Lamb.

Films

Ben Head, Top Screen 2017
Kardinia International College
Quiet
Making 'Quiet'
Duration: 9 minutes 39 seconds

Tessa Himpoo, Top Screen 2017
Lauriston Girls' School
[Insert Child's Name Here]
Making '[Insert Child's Name Here]'
Duration: 4 minutes 22 seconds

Tom Hughes, Top Screen 2017
Northcote High School
Proof or (The Tale of the Legendary Big Shrimp)
Making 'Proof'
Duration: 8 minutes 42 seconds

Jack Wilson-Lee, Top Screen 2016
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
The Panda
Making 'The Panda'
Duration: 7 minutes 58 seconds

James Nolan, Top Screen 2016
Xavier College
Rotten Monster
Making 'Rotten Monster'
Duration: 6 minutes 59 seconds

Bailey Cook, Top Screen 2016
Victory Christian College/Catholic College Bendigo
10
Making '10'
Duration: 5 minutes 28 seconds 

Anna Diacos, Top Screen 2015
Thornbury High School
The Subjects
Making 'The Subjects'
Duration: 6 minutes 59 seconds

Samuel Bennett, Top Screen 2015
Distance Education Centre Victoria/Mount Evelyn Christian School
Albert
Making 'Albert' 
Duration: 6 minutes 58 seconds

Podcasts

Willem Kingma, Top Screen 2017
Kardinia International College
Not Quite Right 
Episode 16: Not Quite Right by Willem Kingma
Duration: 12 minutes 53 seconds

Tom Hughes, Top Screen 2017
Northcote High School
Proof or (The Tale of the Legendary Big Shrimp)
Episode 15: Proof by Tom Hughes
Duration: 10 minutes 28 seconds