Australia’s best short films are set to make a big impact across St Kilda and beyond, with the opening of Australia’s longest-running short film event, the 32nd St Kilda Film Festival.
At St Kilda’s Palais Theatre to celebrate opening night, Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, said the festival is a celebration of local film talent, with a program of Australia’s top 100 short films as well as music videos, films by filmmakers under 21 and a professional development program for emerging filmmakers.
Victorians are well represented in this year’s Festival with 49 Victorian films making up the Festival’s top 100. Zombie thriller Waterborne was selected to screen on opening night alongside Five Minutes More, which had its Victorian premiere.
The Festival’s free filmmaker development program includes a week of talks and forums, covering everything filmmakers need to know about bringing a script to the screen, including screenwriting tips, financing and legal information and distribution strategies.
New initiatives for 2015 include a family program – with free screenings for audiences under 15 years – and special screenings for VCE students. There will also be an encore screening of the opening night program, which will be captioned to ensure a wide range of people can take part.
The Palais Theatre has hosted the Festival’s opening night Gala since 1999. In the 2015-16 Victorian Budget, the Andrews Labor Government provided $13.4 million to restore the Heritage-listed icon and ensure it continues as one of the state’s premier destinations for events and entertainment.
Over 12,000 people are expected to take part in the 10-day program and once the festival wraps up in St Kilda, it goes on tour throughout June and July, travelling to towns across regional Victoria from Camperdown to Cohuna.
The 2015 St Kilda Film Festival is supported by the Labor Government through Film Victoria. It runs from 21-30 May 2015. For full program details, visit:
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley
“The St Kilda Film Festival is a much loved event on our cultural calendar and an important supporter of emerging screen talent.”
“Film is a key part of our creative industries and the St Kilda Film Festival plays a role in strengthening the sector. It showcases local productions and is an opportunity for filmmakers and audiences to connect.”
“It’s fitting to host the Festival Gala at the Palais Theatre. It’s been an iconic home of local cinema and entertainment since the early 1900s, and we’re investing $13.4 million to restore it and secure its future.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020