By EMILY BURKHARDT
Some of the most talented short filmmakers from around the world are bringing their latest and greatest creations to the 18th annual St Kilda Film Festival, which runs to Saturday.
Spoiler alert: They do not disappoint.
The 2016 program continues St Kilda’s widely regarded tradition of opportunity, excellence and entertainment as one of the largest and oldest film festivals in the country, with a variety of creations that will make audiences gasp, laugh and cry.
St Kilda Town Hall provides the perfect backdrop for the festival with its sophisticated, state-of-the-art pop up cinema and lounge. The comfy couches and tables let you sit back and relax between screenings, and if you are lucky, you might bump into one of the filmmakers themselves.
The atmosphere in the building was constantly buzzing with anticipation for each of the sessions. The audiences gathered around the lounge, waiting in line – ready to watch the next set of Australia’s best short films.
What makes the St Kilda Film Festival unique is the wide variety of programs and competitions that allow all genres and styles of short film to have their time in the spotlight.
Throughout the week, a number of screenings will be dedicated to Australia’s Top 100 Films.
The horror comedy Overtime from New South Wales is suspenseful and edgy with a supernatural flair, while the documentary Strudel Sisters from Queensland is a poignant, sweet story of two Hungarian sisters who carry on their family’s legacy through a love of music and strudel.
One of the most touching and raw films is the tearjerker The Flower Girl from Victoria. Based on the traumatising experiences of female director Kaz Ceh, it exposes the heartbreaking truths of human trafficking in Thailand through the eyes of an innocent young girl.
Events like SOUNDKILDA for music videos and Under The Radar for young directors also showcase the depth in Australian niche filmmaking. These films often rely on the commercial audiences that this platform brings in order to increase hype and circulation of their creations.
If you want to explore the best of what international filmmakers have to offer, then the Fandor International Showcase and the Palm Springs International ShortFest will be for you. The 2016 editions include selections from Switzerland, Canada, Finland and Iran and reflect a variety of mainstream and indie genres.
Building these bridges between the Australian and International short film industries through globalising the St Kilda program helps to expose audiences to new stories and new cultures, some far removed from their own.
This short film extravaganza shines a wonderful light on the Australian short film industry.
Fore more information visit the St Kilda Film Festival official website at https://www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/
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