The film is titled ‘Roy’, named for the lead actor Roy Billing, who was involved in projects such as Underbelly, The Dish, and Mystery Road. 

But because of Mr Billing’s schedule filming the Alan Bond miniseries, he could not begin filming Roy until the night before the festival. 

“We went straight from that to the production office and edited all night long,” Mr Wittchen said, referring to himself and co-director Luke Angelo. 

“We did the sound design and made the whole film overnight.

“And me and the film designer finished at 6am, went to the dorms and got some sleep, and woke an hour later to export and render the film.” 

The four minute and 10 second film was a comedy. Mr Wittchen said it was not the type of genre he thought he would write. 

“I was always a bit anxious to do it because playing a comedy in a room full of people who don’t laugh is probably one of the most painful things you could imagine. 

“Which is weird, because everyone who knows me would call me a class clown, or smart arse, or joker.

“To have the audience appreciate it and give you an award is a pretty big deal. It definitely felt good and felt that just maybe I made the right decision leaving that high paying job.” 

Mr Wittchen and his wife Sarah left Mount Isa about 18 months ago so he could study film making at Griffith University. 

“I’ve never been one of those guys that wins awards.The last time I won an award I was 15-years-old playing Canadian football. And nearly all the ones before then had the word ‘participation’ in front of them,” he said. 

“So this means a lot to me. It means maybe I can make it, maybe I didn’t destroy my life when I put my family’s finances in danger to quit my job and pursue this dream.

“Maybe I did make the right decision...and maybe someone from some little mining town in the middle of nowhere can become a great movie director. 

“This (award) is only a little step towards that, but it’s one that felt really good,” Mr Wittchen said.