Musical minds to become stars after film’s award nominations

An independent feature film with a cast and crew made up entirely of Alice Springs locals has become a strong contender for several major awards after capturing the hearts of the nation.

‘Under Streetlights’ is expected to make waves in the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards across multiple categories, including Best Original Film Song and Best Original Film Soundtrack.

It previously received a standing ovation at the Byron Bay International Film Festival and booked a second screening.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) Contemporary Music Lecturer and composer Cain Gilmour played a critical role in bringing the unique soundtrack to life and on Thursday received the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award for VET Teaching Excellence following his role in the film.

Mr Gilmour said he was thrilled to be nominated for the prestigious national film awards alongside his students and hoped to see some of the musical minds behind the film go on to become stars.

“Some songs just happened because musicians were in the right place at the right time,” he said.

“Having a film deliver songs is a blessing, as some songs were designed with a scene in mind.

“Using visual support for the audio as a platform was a challenge but really exciting for me to explore and learn.”

Mr Gilmour said he hoped the film’s success and nominations demonstrated the boundless possibilities of projects linked with CDU.

“I hope that others see the film and think hey, I want to play music or learn about film, I can learn and do a course at CDU,” Mr Gilmour said. 

“The world is a much more colourful place with artists making art.”

Voting for the film is open to AACTA members here, with winners to be announced in 2025.

Under Streetlights will release nationally on December 12 and the soundtrack will be available on streaming platforms to coincide with the film’s roll out across the country.