Ever wanted to get paid to go to a film festival? Well, if you live in Australia, here’s your chance! The Revelation Perth International Film Festival has announced a new Travel Fellowship for both Australian filmmakers and fans that will pay for some folks to attend this year’s fest on July 8-18.

The Fellowship will grant financial assistance to one individual from each Australian state and territory to attend the festival. As long as you have a strong, deep, abiding passion for film and are over 18 years old, you can apply.

Applicants will have to supply a 500 word or less essay on why you just HAVE to be at the festival and winners will be chosen based on who writes the best essay. Then, AUD$500 will be awarded to each winner to cover travel and and accommodation expenses. Plus, winners will receive one festival Gold Pass, two Opening Night Gala tickets and a Rev Fest Guest Pack.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a film festival offering a program like this and I think it’s a fantastic idea. Too bad it’s open to only Australians because I’d shoot off an essay lickety-split if I were eligible to apply. I’ve only covered the past two Rev Fests on the Underground Film Journal, but both times they put on a mind-blowing program, so I’d love to go this year.

But why would a film festival pay people to attend anyway? Here’s Program Director Jack Sargeant explaining the reasoning behind it:

There are a lot of filmmakers, fans and generally interested people out there, and something like the Rev Fellowship will enable them to come and experience the cutting edge of cinema. The fact that the festival is in Perth has meant it has been allowed to follow its own growth, and develop its own networks, so anybody coming to Rev has the opportunity to see films, special events and retrospectives they may never see in other states.

If you want to apply, download the submission form at the Revelation website. The deadline for submissions is April 30.