Stacey Park and Shane Senanayake named winners of TAC’s annual Split Second film competition

Melbourne-based Stacey Park and Shane Senanayake have been announced as the winners of the Victorian Government and the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) annual Split Second film competition, impressing the judging panel with their innovative and impactful storytelling.

Both winners will receive mentorship from The Taboo Group and Truce Films to develop their scripts for screening in February 2025.

The competition invites Victorian creatives aged 18 to 30 to submit their attention-grabbing concepts for road safety aimed at young drivers.

Each winner receives a $5,000 cash prize and a production budget of $45,000 to focus on low-level speeding or not wearing a seatbelt.

Park’s short film ‘Keep the Tempo’, uses the precision and rhythm of Korean drumming as a powerful metaphor for road safety, creatively visualising how even a slight increase in speed can throw everything off balance.

Senanayake’s film uses humour in ‘Unusual Behaviours’, to highlight the flawed logic behind not wearing a seatbelt – comparing it to growing up in a town where no one wears pants – to remind viewers of the importance of seatbelts and that wearing them should never be optional.

Visit tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/split-second for more information about the TAC Split Second competition.

Says Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne: “This film competition is a great way to shape road safety messages for young Victorians that speak directly to what matters most to them. These initiatives are vital in encouraging good driver behaviour to make our roads safer for everyone.”

Says Transport Accident Commission CEO Tracey Slatter: “We believe young Victorians will feel the impact of Stacey and Shane’s innovative thinking. By sparking conversations and shifting mindsets, their creativity will help drive positive change in road safety.”

Says Senanayake: “I’m beyond excited, I entered this competition just because I love creative problem-solving, never expecting to actually win. To now be working on an ad of this scale, with such an important purpose, feels like the opportunity of a lifetime”

Says Park: “I’m incredibly proud to have won the TAC Split Second competition. It offers a unique opportunity to apply my creativity and cultural perspective to shape public safety messaging that genuinely resonates with young people.”

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