However, the Bulli film-makers are on their way to Hollywood after winning the inaugural Short+Sweet Illawarra Film Festival competition earlier this month.

"Our honeymoon (in January 2018) took us firstly to England to see Nick's Dad, via a stopover in Hong Kong," director and cinematographer Milne, 38, said.

"We then flew to India via a stopover in Dubai, for our honeymoon in Mumbai, Goa and Kerala. We were excited by the challenge of just the two of us making most of the film in five countries.

"Travelling light means we couldn't take much equipment, so we filmed on just one DLSR, a GoPro and mobile phones.

"Our editor James Vass worked wonders in the edit, sound and grade to make it not only festival worthy, but capable of winning festivals."

Their collective hard work paid off.

The short film, The Road to Vagator, won Best Film, Best Illawarra Film, Judge's Choice and People's Choice at the Illawarra competition.

It has already been screened at a series of film festivals around the world.

"It's a difficult film to describe as there is a very big twist halfway through that reveals what the man is doing," writer and actor Bolton, 47, said. "It's a very personal film, a very autobiographical film, and one that resonates with all audiences. Tissues are required by most people."

The couple also cleaned up in the Wildcard category, with short film The Narrabundah Boy.

Winning Short+Sweet Illawarra means that The Road to Vagator automatically qualifies for Short+Sweet Hollywood 2019 in Los Angeles in September/October.

The couple are awaiting an exact date for when the film will be screened at the Los Angeles event before booking flights to the US.

They'll also be networking with film production companies while in America.

"It's very hard to get feature films up, so by winning short film competitions it just adds to our reputation and CV," Bolton said.

"So when we're going to government bodies like Screen Australia and Create NSW, we've got some recognition being us."

The couple previously made other short films and documentaries, and worked on feature film Back Of The Net, filmed in Wollongong last year.

They pursue film-making aside from their day job running video production company Ten Alphas.

"Our model is we get corporates and government to pay for our corporate work, and we invest in all the equipment and staff to do that, and then make our creative projects when we can," Bolton said.

Bolton said short films being shown on the big screen at local festivals was a thrill.

"Most short films get viewed on a laptop or an iPad or whatever," he said.

"To see them in front of an audience is wonderful, and discuss them with audiences afterwards."

Milne said short film festivals are important to provide a platform for local filmmakers, help build a community, and enhance the arts culture in Wollongong.

"We are very grateful to festival director Luke Berman and his team, for all their hard work in providing this platform for us," she said.

"The standard of the local Illawarra films was very high."

You can watch the film here.

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