JMC National High School Competition

Entries to the No Limits competition are now closed! Thank you for your submissions and good luck!

JMC Academy is proud to present our National Competition for 2025. We are inviting High School Students in Years 10-12 and Homeschooled students ages 15-18 to challenge themselves to create in an area they’re passionate about.

Whether it be Acting, Music, Design, or Film & Animation, submit your work for a chance to win some awesome prizes worth up to $2,000! There are No Limits to your creativity, so find the category that best describes you from the options below and get creating!

This opportunity is open to ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES in Australia. ’

Major Prizes

The winner of the Acting Major Prize will receive:

  • Head Shots and Show Reel Session with one of our Film and TV experts.
  • Private two-hour consultation with an Acting/Musical Theater specialist.

Whether it’s a performance piece, a scene, or something totally original, you’ll have access to expert guidance and professional facilities to help bring it to life on screen!

The winner of the Design Major Prize will receive:

  • A Wacom Cintiq 16 valued at RRP $1199
  • Portfolio consultation with a Graphic or Game Design Specialist

It’s the ultimate chance to build something original, refine your style, and walk away with both new work and new tools.

  • Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo valued at RRP $1129
  • Demo Reel Consultation with Expert Lecturer

Create something you're proud of and add a standout piece to your portfolio.

  • Recording, Mixing and Mastering session with expert lecturer and audio engineer.

This is a chance to bring your music to life with expert support, high-quality equipment, and a produce a piece of work to kick-start your music career.

Minor Prize 

  • Three Runners Up will score a two-hour online consultation with an expert lecturer in your field of interest.

Categories

Submit a Monologue or Scene

Length: 2 to 8 minutes

Submit a solo monologue or a scene with others from a play, film, or theatre piece.

You have total creative freedom in how you bring it to life, comedy, drama, musical - go all out!

You can:

  • Perform it as a straight monologue or scene
  • Deliver it with a comedic spin or emotional depth
  • Reflect on modern themes or stay true to the original setting
  • Even sing your monologue if it fits your character and style

Add flair with costumes, props, sets, or locations that help tell your story.

Recording on your phone is totally fine — just make sure we can see and hear you clearly, so your performance shines.

Submit a Game Level or Art Series

You can choose to submit either of the following:

Game Design

Submit 1 level or stage of a game you’ve designed.

This could be a:

  • Playable prototype Level walkthrough video
  • Level map or storyboard showing game flow

This is your chance to showcase gameplay mechanics, creativity, and how you engage the player.

OR

Art Series

Submit a visual artwork series of 1 to 5 pieces. These should be connected by a theme, style, or concept. Think:

  • Character or environment designs
  • Concept art for games, animation, or world-building
  • A cohesive visual storytelling set

Let your creativity lead — this is all about strong visual ideas, design thinking, and execution.

Submit a Short Film, Documentary, or Animation 

Length: 1 to 10 minutes

You can submit work in any of the following genres:

  • Fiction Short
  • Documentary Short
  • Animated Short
  • Television Commercial
  • Music video

What the judges are looking for:

  • Originality and creativity
  • Emotional impact
  • Strong performances and direction
  • Smart use of a low budget

Eligibility: Your film must have been completed within the past year.

Song or Mix Entry

Length: 2 to 5 minutes

Got a track you're proud of? Submit your original song or mix and showcase your songwriting and production skills.

Song entries must include lyrics and a lyric sheet. We're looking for complete, original compositions that tell a story and sound great.

Important Notes: No commercially released or monetised music. Your song must not be available for sale or on streaming platforms.

Key dates

  • Submissions for the No Limits competition will close on the 30th of September, 2025.
  • The winners will be announced the from the 1st of December, 2025 – 31st of January, 2026.

Technical specifications

  • 1920x1080 resolution or higher
  • 25fps to 30fps (frames per second)
  • MP4 format
  • Max file size of 40MB for entries directly uploaded via the entry form. Larger files are accepted but must be uploaded to your own Vimeo account. If you upload to Vimeo please provide the share link with your entry.
  • All work must be submitted electronically (scan, photograph or export) as a A4 PDF, high quality JPG file, TIFF, MP4 or MOV file
  • Maximum PDF page count is five (5) pages
  • Please keep file sizes to 20MB max
  • Please keep any video file length to sixty (60) seconds max
  • The final submitted version is to be ideally UPLOADED TO VIMEO AND YOUTUBE.
  • When exporting your video from your editing program, make sure it is HIGH RES 1920 x 1080 and it is at 25 fps (frames per second). 
  • Films submitted can be up to 10 minutes in length.
  • Upload your audio file via the JMC Academy website
  • Accepted formats: MP3 or WAV only
  • File must be named like this: FullName_SongTitle Example: JustinBieber_LoveYourself.mp3
  • Include a lyric sheet with your submission
    • Accepted formats: .DOC or .PDF only
  • The song should be around 2-5 minutes long

Get To Know This Year’s Judges

Film & Television

Katya Kondrasheva

FTV Facilities Assistant

Katya is an international student alumni who grew up in Russia and moved to Sydney to explore the world of film. During her time in JMC she was a part of more than 20 productions. Her main passion lies in the Camera Department and she recently finished working on her first feature film production as both a camera assistant and key grip. Katya is using her time employed by JMC to become a better filmmaker and expand her knowledge, interests, and skillsets while simultaneously guiding students closer to their goals.

Matt Kaylor

Senior Lecturer - Film & Television (Melbourne)

Matt has over 18 years Broadcast experience as a TV studio camera operator, working on some of the UK's most iconic game shows.(Deal or No Deal, Family Fortunes). Since 2008 he has taught Film and Television Production within the further and higher education sectors across the UK.  Matt has been documentary module leader, personal tutor and final year major project supervisor helping guide students into careers in the Film and television Industry.

Music

Kemo Bunguric

Head of Music (Sydney)

Kemo’s teaching methods and influence reflect his own passion and extensive skills in composition, arranging and music technology, especially since he is a piano accordion virtuoso and an Australasian Accordion Champion.

By the age of 13, Kemo had learned early on how important it was to market one’s self as a musician, a concept which he aims to instil in his students. Kemo ensures that his students understand how to develop themselves as well-rounded musicians and teaches them the importance of being progressive within the industry.

James O'Brien

Head of Music (Melbourne)

James graduated with a Bachelor of Music (performance) from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2001 and immediately began work as a touring musician successfully traversing the jazz and popular music worlds. With modern piano trio Misinterprotato, James toured around Australia, the U.S., Canada and Japan and contributed to the group's first two releases through the Melbourne based Jazzhead label.

As singer and songwriter in Brisbane-Melbourne based indie-pop group The Boat People, James has released three albums, toured the U.S. 8 times (including two trips to SXSW), the U.K. twice and supported many outstanding Australian and International acts including Powderfinger, Crowded House and The Shins. The Boat People have had 8 songs playlisted on national radio station Triple J and in 2007 James signed a publishing deal with Ivy League/Mushroom which has seen his songs used extensively in television and film.

In 2012, James co-wrote and sung the breakout single "Half of It" for producer duo YesYou which received high rotation radio play on Triple J. James currently works as touring bass player with avant-folk group Machine Translations and songstress Kate Miller-Heidke. With his new group Darling James, he produced and music directed the "8 First Dates" event at the 2014 Melbourne Fringe which featured guests Ainslie Wills, Angie Hart (Frente), Jae Laffer (The Panics) and many others. Darling James are about to release their debut single and recently opened for legendary Australian group, The Church.

Will Day

Head of Music, and Entertainment Business Management (Brisbane)

Gritty. Grounded. Heartfelt. A stand-out performer. From energetic tracks such as the single ‘Countrified’ to emotive ballads like ‘Simple Then’ (with Brooke Schubert), it’s no surprise that Will is making an impact on the country music scene.  2021 has been a wild ride, with single ‘Countrified’ added to iHeartCountry and KIX Country with the song reaching #12 on the KIX Country Charts and ‘Simple Then’ added to ABC Country, reaching #9 on the KIX Country Charts and #5 on the Countrytown Hot 50 Charts. Both tracks are included on Will’s debut album ‘Countrified’ and will be accompanied by a national tour reaching every state over the next 12 months.

Will has opened for the likes of Morgan Evans, Shannon Noll, Diesel, Hoodoo Gurus, The Baby Animals, The Black Sorrows, Col Finley and The Viper Creek Band while also appearing at  Australia’s most iconic country music festivals, including Tamworth Country Music Festival, Groundwater Country Music Festival and Gympie Muster.

With a genuine gift of storytelling, combined with compelling vocals and the ability to connect with a crowd, Will Day is fast becoming one of Australia’s premier rising country artists and one that will undoubtedly be around for many years to come.

Acting

Bree Ironside

Senior Lecturer, Acting (Brisbane)

Graduating a double degree with distinctions and winning the UNSW 2015 award for best performance in Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education, Bree has been teaching in Music and Wellbeing for the past 9 years.

Having grown up working in a music studio, Bree continues to do session singing and teaches a wide range of vocal students.

Bree recently graduated a Masters degree with excellence/high distinction, and a Counselling degree to further her education in student support, diversity and mental health. She has a passion for using this to help students in the creative fields to succeed both professionally and in their personal lives. 

Jane Angharad

Senior Acting Lecturer (Sydney)

Jane is an Actor, Director, Theatre Producer and Teacher. She is co-founder and Artistic Director of award-winning theatre company Secret House. Originally from Wales, Jane trained in London before moving to Sydney in 2011, where she has worked on numerous productions across a wide range of venues. Award nominations include Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role, Best Ensemble and the winner of Best Independent Production (Albion) and Broadway World Award for Best Supporting Performer (Hedda Gabler).

Ben Samuel

Head of Acting + Music Theatre (Melbourne), and Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee

Having recently moved from New Zealand, Ben has immersed himself in the performing arts industry in Melbourne. In New Zealand, Ben has performed in several musicals, concerts, cabarets & music festivals across the country. His performance credits include singing, acting & dancing in major stage productions such as Carmen, Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, Hair, Curtains, Coca-Cola CCITP & Nelson Opera in the Park.

Ben has also performed alongside many New Zealand artists, with production companies such as Showbiz, Canterbury Opera & Chant et Danse, and was involved extensively in the New Zealand Jazz & Arts festivals for many years. During his time in Melbourne, Ben has been building a career in singing & teaching whilst standing by the words of Stephen Sondheim “..if I cannot fly, let me sing.”

Design

Josh Coates

Senior Design [Visual Communication] Lecturer

Josh is Senior Lecturer in the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) at JMC Academy. His expertise in design thinking, ux, and graphic design spans across agencies in Asia and Australia working with clients including Google, YouTube, Telstra, Toyota, Dulux, Maybeline, Flybuys and more. Josh's contributions to this industry have been recognised by significant politicians and CEOs through direct interactions, corporate events and installations. Expanding on his practice of design, Josh is currently pursuing further study and professional development in the education space through learning design and teaching in higher education & vocational.

Nitzan Waisberg

National Head of Design

Nitzan leads JMC Academy’s design program with a global perspective shaped by years of experience in human-centred design, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has taught at Stanford University’s d school and Tel Aviv University’s Coller School of Management, where she co- founded a successful startup pre-accelerator.

Ready to Apply?

Entries are now closed

Who can enter?

This competition is open to High School Students in Years 10-12 and Homeschooled students ages 15-18 across all states in Australia. 

Terms and Conditions

See the Terms and Conditions

Questions?

Reach out to the Outreach team at creativepathways@jmc.edu.au if you have any questions.

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