TWO acting mates are taking their craft to the country with the founding of the Warrambeen Film Festival, LAURA WAKELY reports

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts is famous for its alumni - Hugh Jackman, Lisa McCune and William McInnes.

But two Victorian graduates have turned their back on Hollywood-esque fame and instead have returned to their country roots to share their love of acting with their community.

Geordie Taylor, from Shelford, west of Geelong, and best mate Pascal Mercay are the creators of the inaugural Warrambeen Film Festival, which will have its first showing this weekend.

The one-day festival will be held at Warrambeen Station, Geordie's family property, and will showcase a range of short films created by locals, as well as some from those in the industry.

"Growing up in the country and having a creative mind, I was always imagining," Geordie says.

"We wanted to preserve local history and stories and create a festival that could show this off."

Beginning at noon, the festival will feature three cinemas, local musicians and food and wine from the area.

"We want to source as much as possible locally, but obviously, like films, not enough gets made," Geordie says.

The duo graduated from WAAPA in 2006.

Geordie has appeared in Blue Heelers, Neighbours and City Homicide, with a 2007 Best Actor nomination at the WA Screen Awards for the short film, Touched.

Meanwhile, Pascal will soon be seen in Steven Spielberg's The Pacific, after appearing on Neighbours and SBS' Carla Cametti.

But for the festival the two mates have created their own film.

Pascal has gone behind the camera to write and direct We of the Walls, which stars Geordie, as well as singer and actor Axle Whitehead.

Geordie says the film is a "sweeping romantic mini-epic" inspired by the stone walls around the region.

We of the Walls was completed in just five days, despite set-backs, which included having just 24 hours to recast one role and flash floods delaying filming.

"Mum, of course, catered for everyone so I owe her big," Geordie says.

His parents are big backers of the local area and Geordie says they have supported the festival every step of the way, even offering their heritage-listed bluestone property for use as the festival site.

Instead of sheep, the preserved shearing shed will play host to a flock of film buffs, while the natural surroundings make for the perfect outdoor cinema.

"The ampitheatre is basically a beautiful undulating hill that looks down to the homestead," Geordie says.

"Hopefully we'll get a bit of rain so we have green grass to sit on."

As a way of showing support to the film community, the festival will offer prizes to film makers.

The festival's main prize is Roy's Film, (named after the family's rooster), and encourages locals to submit a film under 30-minutes long.

"We want it to re-tell or to be based on a local story," Geordie says.

"We're trying to re-mine those great stories you hear down the pub or by the camp fire."

Not only will the winner's film be screened on the day, but they will also be given $8000 to create a film for next year's festival.

"After the main day's events, everyone will go to the main stage where a giant inflatable screen will blow up and we'll screen the top 10 film entries," Geordie says.

The judges, who will represent a "cross-section of society" won't be over-analysing production values, he says. Instead, they will reward the most enjoyable story.

The Warrambeen Film Festival will also support the region, with a competition for local school kids and fundraisers for community groups.

"We've got the Rokewood Football Club running the bar and the local kinder will run a bouncing castle," Geordie says.

The creative duo are expecting an audience of anywhere up to 2000 people.

After working on the festival for six months without payment, Geordie and Pascal would love to see profits from their first year. However, the money generated from the festival will be re-invested into next year's event.

"But you can't put a price on community, can you?" Geordie says.