The Ignite Film Festival has jumped the ditch this year with entries coming from as far afield as New Zealand, as well as the United Kingdom and Western Australia.
A record number of entries have been received with over 40 films entered in what is the third year of the Christian short film festival.
Event co-ordinator of Ignite, Deb Chen, says the overall quality of films entered into Ignite this year has been "amazing'.
"Each year we've run Ignite, the film makers keep on raising the bar on the quality, creativity and standard of films," Ms Chen says.
"I've been really impressed by the creativity of the film makers in presenting Biblical truths this year."
Ignite will take place over an unprecedented three nights this year, culminating in the Ignite Awards Night at the Sydney Town Hall from 7pm this Saturday night.
The top 15 films will be screened at the Awards night with Sparky's (the fist-holding-matchstick-shaped Ignite awards) awarded to film makers for categories including best script, best cinematography, best sound, best male and female actors, best editing and/or special effects and best animation.
"It's the first time we've award prizes for these categories, but we believe that the changes will help make Ignite a better, more enjoyable event, which will continue to raise the bar in the standard of films entered in the future."
Along with a host of quality Christian short films, there will also be live entertainment from Revive.
"We're excited to have Revive join us again. They did a great job at the first Ignite in 2004 in entertaining the audience and getting the crowd pumped for a night of fun," Ms Chen says.
On the Thursday and Friday nights prior to the Awards night, a larger selection of the films entered will be screened over the two evenings at CMS.
"We want to be able to provide as many film makers as we can with the opportunity to have their films screened in front of a live audience," Ms Chen says.
"The extra screening nights are a great opportunity for us to showcase as many films from Ignite 06, and give the film makers a chance to check out the competition."
The best entries from this year's Ignite will also be released on a DVD for sale at the Awards night.
"One of the main aims of Ignite is to provide churches, schools and youth groups with a useful multimedia resource," Ms Chen says.
This year's DVD includes 26 of the top films from Ignite 06, which are based on a wide variety of Bible passages and stories including Sampson, 1 Kings, the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts, Colossians 3, Psalms, Proverbs, the gospels and much more.
Tickets are still available for the Thursday and Friday night preliminary screenings in CMS (Level 5, 51 Druitt St, Sydney).
Tickets for the Saturday Awards Night at the Town Hall will also be available at the door.
To book your tickets, call the Ignite office 02 9958 7088, or log on to the Ignite website.
