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Home-Grown Film Festival
Local resident and film buff Michael Norton ushers in the Katoomba Short Film Festival for its third year with a little help from the locals.
Michael Norton inherited the reigns of director for the Katoomba Short Film Festival almost by accident. He was approached by a couple of motivated locals who had started a small film festival. They enlisted his help after they heard he had worked for the ABC as an editor on compelling programs such as Four Corners.
This is Norton's second year as festival director and he has found the experience to be enriching. It has been his first time, not only working behind the curtain in the events industry, but also up close with short films. "It was a real eye opener, especially when I saw what people could achieve with a film in such a short space of time," he enthuses.
Each year the festival screens in Katoomba, a charming town known for its tourist spot the Three Sisters, the gorgeous views and its laid back bohemian community. It has become a prime feature of Katoomba's annual main street parade, Winter Magic, which celebrates the winter solstice with street performers, stalls, art exhibitions and an electric atmosphere.
The Katoomba Short Film Festival has become an important event for emerging filmmakers to showcase their talent and Norton is the first to recognise the thriving arts community which exists there. "The Blue Mountains has a strong artistic character. For decades it's had an artistic bohemian community," he says. Its many music venues have given birth to several up-and-coming musicians including Aussie hip-hop act Hermitude and newcomers Cloud Control.
The locals have become the life blood of the humble film festival, volunteering their services and talents. A major supporter of the festival is Australian screen legend and local, Jack Thompson."He is a very giving man," Norton says. "He has been very generous and supportive of events like these."
As the festival has grown in its scope, Norton has experienced a number of challenges that come with organising such an event including attracting sponsorship. "In my darker moments I try to remind myself of John Polson hacking it out in the Tropicana Cafe," he says referring to the director and founder of Tropfest - now the world's biggest short film festival - which originated in a small cafe in Darlinghurst. He adds, "I'm taking it one festival at a time."
The festival screens all categories of films including documentary, drama, animation and an open category. This year the judging panel will include actor Tiriel Mora (The Castle, Underbelly) and Beth Champion who also runs the Blue Mountains Performing Arts Association
The prizes will remain under wraps until awards night but Norton assures they are valuable for budding filmmakers. The main prize however is no secret. While Cannes has its Palme d'Or and Berlin has the Golden Bear, the Katoomba Short Film Festival has the Golden Gang Gang, named after the grey cockatoos that occupy the bushland of the Blue Mountains. "I regretted it though as I had to come up with a bird shaped trophy!" Norton laughs. However the director breathed a sigh of relief when local sculptor, Phillip Hay, volunteered to make the award.
Last year's Golden Gang Gang was presented in the beautifully restored ballroom of the Carrington Hotel by local resident, film critic and godfather of film festivals, David Stratton.
As to why so many people are willing to give up their time to help run the festival each year, Stratton summed it up best at last year's award ceremony. "Short films are such an important way for filmmakers to express themselves, to tell stories, visualise ideas," he said. "I think many of those who have gone on to make feature films have found encouragement in events like this."
The Katoomba Film Festival will screen over the weekend of June 12-13. Deadline for submissions to the festival is May 28. For more information, visit the festival website.