RMIT Media students take over ACMI for media festival showcase

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RMIT Media students take over ACMI for media festival showcase

Student-led TomorrowFest showcased 15 Media productions, a packed program of screenings, panels and events with the support of Melbourne's creative industry across three days in June.

When RMIT Media student Felix Calderon was appointed Festival Director of TomorrowFest, the program's end-of-semester multimedia showcase, he arrived with a clear vision for what the event should represent.

"TomorrowFest is a festival that exhibits the creatives of tomorrow, today," he says.

"Our sole focus is to foster a welcoming, diverse space for any and all emerging creatives and to give them a leg up in building their career within the creative space."

Produced by the students of The Media Studios Festival Experience, an undergraduate studio led by lecturer Cerise Howard, TomorrowFest brought together works from across the entire RMIT Media program.

Opening night was held at ACMI, where 15 works screened at ACMI Cinema, one from each Media studio. Individual studio screenings followed across RMIT City campus on days two and three at the Media Hub.

Two people posing for camera

Staff, students and friends attended the opening night at ACMI Cinema. Each guest was handed a drink on arrival, proudly provided by the event sponsors.

For Felix, a long-time advocate for local and independent film culture, the opportunity to lead an event of this scale was one he embraced with conviction.

"The sense of community and passion that derives from film festivals is truly immense and it provides such a powerful impact on the arts culture and everyone within it," he says. "When I was presented with the opportunity to do this studio, I knew I just had to do it and be a part of something that can have an impact on the creative community."

The Festival Director role demands involvement across every dimension of an event, from logistics and communications to team culture and stakeholder engagement. Felix describes the experience as demanding, but formative.

"There was definitely an overwhelming amount of responsibility that came with the role, but the work itself is important," he says.

People speaking at lectern on stage

Felix Calderon speaking on the opening night at ACMI Cinema.

Recognition from the sector

TomorrowFest closed with an awards ceremony featuring jury-voted awards alongside an Audience Choice Award, which went to All You Need is Kill, created by Jarell Gan, Levi Reid, Shani Grubisic and Ian Ryosuke Tsuji.

The festival also screened a TomorrowFest documentary created by Darcie O'Brien from the Creative Direction department, and featured A Community of Curiosity, a panel discussion led by Dr Hannah Brasier bringing together academics, studio leaders and students to reflect on the purpose and future of the Media Studios program.

People standing on red carpet

The official Tomorrow Fest 2026 organising team.

The reception exceeded Felix’s expectations, drawing praise from attendees, sponsors and industry professionals, including RMIT alumna Kath Yuan of Princess Bento, who serves as Festival Director of Next Frame, an animation collective with a comparable mission to TomorrowFest.

"For how small scale this festival was, the response we got from people who have professionally worked in the festival sector was incredible,” Felix says.

Being able to be a part of something that meaningfully contributes to and has an impact on the evolution and preservation of our arts culture was unforgettable and made me extremely proud.

People speaking to camera

Students on the organising team created a full suite of social media content leading up to the opening night.

TomorrowFest is a wonderful reflection of what RMIT's Media program makes possible.

By embedding real-world creative production into the curriculum, students graduate not just with knowledge of the industry, but with direct experience of contributing to it.

For students considering involvement in future editions, Felix's advice is to have fun with it.

The more passionate and dedicated you are about doing something impactful for the creative community, the more you will get out of the overall experience.

Learn more about Media and Communication studies at RMIT.

The festival was proudly supported by hospitality partners Konpira Maru Wine Company, Balter Brewing, Fat Goat, Eclipse Cinema and Red Bull, alongside industry partners DS Melbourne, Princess Bento, 3MDR and Triple R.

02 July 2026

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