A Perth filmmaker has taken out the top award at this year's Australia Youth Film Festival, held in Melbourne on Friday night.

Dannon Wu, 24, won the ABC Best Overall Film award for 'Black Cockatoos: Cultural Significance,' a documentary centred on an Elders Yarning Circle.

The film was produced as part of 'Keep Carnaby's Flying - Ngoolarks Forever,' a science-informed, community-driven initiative focused on protecting Carnaby's black cockatoos.

The project brought together Noongar Elders, researchers and community leaders to explore the cultural meaning of the species.

Ancestors of the Noongar people gave the name 'Ngoolark' to the Carnaby's black cockatoo.

Once seen in flocks that signalled seasonal rains, the birds hold deep spiritual significance.

The film captures the voices of Elders reflecting on their responsibility to pass on stories of the Ngoolark, the emotional impact of ongoing damage to boodjar (Country), and the importance of recognising cultural knowledge in conservation efforts.

Mr Wu said the film was shaped by stories shared in the circle.

"The inspiration for my film came from the Elders Yarning Circle, where it was extremely enlightening to hear about the hidden meanings behind Black Cockatoos and the collective frustrations and perspectives from the elders directly," he said.

"I knew that the only way to present this documentary was to allow the speakers to tell it in their own words without narration and not shy away from emotion."

Mr Wu said growing up in Perth came with assumptions that success in filmmaking required moving interstate.

"The industry here is small, so it's incredibly connection-based, but it's been fantastic to see the growth of opportunities for filmmaking not just in Australia but particularly in WA," he said.

Other award winners included Maggie Brittingham, 25, from Melbourne, who received Best Acting for 'Me, My Ralph and I', a film exploring a young girl's experience with responsibility and self-identity.

The Best Documentary award went to 'Greener Pastures' by Lachlan Sonnemann, 21, for his portrayal of two Gippsland dairy farmers managing the demands of organic farming.

'Stuck in a Memory' by Sydney's Max Stanner, 20, won Best Editing for its reflection on how people recall elements of a relationship post-breakup.

Sydney filmmakers Thomas van Gool and Prospera Holder Young, both 21, received Best Cinematography for 'A Man Paints a Woman', which examines the relationship between artist and subject.

Best Animation went to 'Red Moon' by Kath Yuan, 21, from Melbourne, based on her comic about moving countries as a teenager.

"Red Moon is inspired by my comic strip based on my own experience of growing up as an East Asian woman who moved to a foreign country at the cusp of adolescence," Ms Yuan said.

Festival Director Ryan Chow said the 2025 event attracted 774 entries and highlighted the strength of Australia's emerging talent.

"Our second annual festival has been an amazing success," he said.

"I look forward to seeing the talent that was so evident across our pool of entrants grow, to create an Australian industry that eventually wows the film-making world."

'Black Cockatoos: Cultural Significance' is available to watch on YouTube.