The four finalists in Wollongong City Council's Australia Day youth short film competition have been named, after budding directors took on the theme "Wollongong and me".

All four were created by youths as projects with social agency Beyond Empathy, which produced multi-award winning film Rites of Passage.

Beyond Empathy community worker and Rites of Passage director Phil Crawford is thrilled they are being recognised.

"These were all written and directed by the kids."

Concrete Rainbow, a film about skateboarding around Warrawong, was deemed overall winner by a panel of judges on Thursday.

Toby Schaefer-Darling, co-ordinator of Wollongong Youth Services and a competition judge, said: "It's nice to get stories from these young people into the broader domain, to let other people find out what it's like in their shoes."

The four finalists, with subject matter ranging from a zombie spoof film to relationship breakdowns, will be screened at celebrations at Wollongong Harbour tomorrow.

A people's choice award is running online, with the most popular film to receive a Sony Bloggie camcorder.

To see all four short films and vote for your favourite, click here.