COFFS Harbour's third Janison Short Sharp Film Festival saw Sawtell-based company Forge Films take out the major award.

Bullseye, Forge Films' amusing black comedy set on Sawtell Beach, was also the favourite with the festival crowd of filmgoers, who also gave it the people's choice award.

Forge Films is a company created by two couples, Fiona and David Foulkes and Mark and Megan George.

The quartet, who used their $900 economic stimulus payments to hire local talent and make Bullseye, want to make feature films and see creating short films as a way to practise and hone their skills.

Chief Judge and film and television industry stalwart Wean Burnett travelled from Melbourne to judge at the festival, which saw sell-out crowds for the showing of finalists' films in the junior as well as the senior and open sessions.