In 2012, I created Space Trash, an open-mic film night held in Cosmo’s warehouse in Marrickville, Sydney, with the help of friends. This event provided a platform for anyone to create and screen short films for a welcoming audience, free from the pressure of presenting a polished final product. The films showcased at Space Trash were raw, experimental, and gutsy, attracting many film students who shared video sketches and explored new ideas. Many participants also just had fun making videos with or for their friends, often playfully embracing Australian bogan culture. The supportive, no-judgment atmosphere encouraged people to keep creating, experimenting, and sharing their work. One hilarious regular, later became a viral comedian (Nats What I Reckon), entertaining many during the COVID lockdown with his cooking videos.
After moving to Iceland, I found myself missing the vibrant community of Space Trash. So in 2013, I launched the Kex Film Society, where I organised screenings of locally made films and facilitated Q&A sessions with filmmakers. That same year, we also hosted the Nordic Creative Commons Film Festival. While I took on all organisational details and responsibilities for these events, including scheduling, curating, designing posters, flyers, and promotional videos, I was fortunate to have the support of friends and Kex Hostel who generously offered their assistance along the way.