Behind the lens, Gabe Aylen tells the youngsters to get out.

His short film, Hiking the Wild South Coast Way: Heysen Trail, was a South Australian finalist for the REELISE National Youth Film Festival.

The five-minute production focuses on two young boys who have decided to go on a hike to escape the pressures of school and life for a few days.

“My message was just to go out and do something you want to do,” Gabe said.

“Just stop thinking about it, go ahead, do it.”

The trio of teenagers spent four days camping along Australia’s longest marked trail.(Provided: Gabe Aylen)

Created in 2013, the REELISE film festival aims to address mental health and cyberbullying issues that young people face.

“A lot of [the other films] were about anxiety and mental health, mine was a different approach, the positive side of it,” Gabe said.

Since Gabe was already writing, directing, filming and editing, he hired a friend and a cousin to star in the film.

However, the production was sometimes difficult.

“I had a hard time convincing them to let me take over if I didn’t make it the first time, because they didn’t want to go back down the hill and back up again,” he said.

“We also struggled when it was raining, but luckily it only rained a few times.”

A boy's back with a large green camping bag in front of hills and a colorful sky
The boys were treated to stunning views during their adventure.(Provided: Gabe Aylen)

Gabe had been interested in film as a child, but had taken a break until he rediscovered the art form – through airplanes.

“It’s a bit strange, but for at least seven or eight years I liked remote control cars, then I got a remote control drone about five years ago,” he said.

“About two years ago, I convinced my dad to buy me a drone with a camera, and I said that if he did, I could film his houses, because he’s an architect.

“So while doing that, I made a few movies for his houses while I had fun flying him.

“When I look back on those movies now, I think they’re really bad, but that’s okay.

“I kind of fell in love with film and photography thanks to this drone.”

A boy with a large green backpack stands on a rock in front of green hills
The trio embarked on an “epic adventure” camping alone for four days.(Provided: Gabe Aylen)

However, Gabe’s mother, Jacq Iles, said his passion for movies goes back further than that.

“I remember when he was young, he always liked to take a bulky old digital camera and take pictures, or play games and make stop-motion movies,” she said.

“He combined his love of nature and getting out and being in nature, which I know Gabe really enjoys, so it’s the two passions that come together.”

To shoot the film, his friend and cousin Gabe camped along Australia’s longest marked walking track for four days and three nights.

Despite staying with a friend half an hour away in an emergency, Ms Iles felt it was important for her son and his pals to have an independent experience.

“I’m so proud of them, because no adults have gone on this journey with them,” she said.

“They organized everything, the food, the gear… two 15 year olds and my 16 year old son, there for four days.

“…But trust them. We’re letting them go on this epic journey on their own and proving they’re very capable.”

A boy with a backpack looks at the camera while walking
Gabe says filming was a challenge at times, especially in the rain.(Provided: Gabe Aylen)

Although he missed out on a spot at the national level of the competition, Gabe has his sights set on a future movie career.

“My ideal dream is to finish school, to travel around the world, hopefully with friends with my camera and… to make movies doing that,” he said.

“And eventually go back to Adelaide and find some kind of career.

“I want to keep making movies like this…but bigger and better.”

The moral of Gabe’s story?

Well, there were a lot. That we should all take a hike someday, rediscover our passions and prove our abilities along the way.