By FilmInk Staff
“It’s wonderful to have even one film selected to screen, so I am thrilled to have three films selected for The Canberra Short Film Festival,” director Stephanie Begg tells FilmInk. “I submitted all three films thinking how fun it would be if they all got in, but did not expect it at all.”
All completed at AFTRS while she was studying the Master in Directing, Begg’s three films selected for The Canberra Short Film Festival cut across styles and genres. Hermit is a wry romantic comedy in which an agoraphobic music composer, who writes custom songs for funerals, finds her life thrown off-key when an unexpected visitor knocks at the door. Echo Pines is a mystery thriller in which a female police detective searches for a missing girl. Hitting Partner is a coming-of-age drama about the strained relationship between an aspiring tennis player and her domineering mother.
“Canberra is my hometown,” Begg tells FilmInk. “I grew up there, so it’s great to go back with these films. I also shot most of Echo Pines in Canberra using brilliant local crew and actors, who were stellar to work with. Canberra is such a great place to make a film; it is so versatile. The completion of all three shorts was held up by the pandemic lockdowns, so it’s really satisfying that they’re finally getting out there.”
The restrictive nature of the Covid lockdowns also meant that Begg hasn’t been able to enjoy the festival success that her films have already experienced around the world. “This is actually the first festival that Echo Pines has gone to that I’ll be able to attend. It’s had a successful run at festivals in other parts of the world, but this is the first festival in Australia to take it on. I think a lot of festivals don’t know what to do with it, being a genre film and a proof of concept for a larger TV series, but it’s really nice that it will have its Australian premiere in Canberra where it was filmed. It has a lot of significance to me. It’s like it was meant to be.”
Hermit and Hitting Partner, meanwhile, will have their world premieres at the festival, which Begg sees as a perfect fit. “The Canberra Short Film Festival has such a great communal vibe,” the director offers. “They are really passionate about short films, which is what Australian filmmakers really hone their craft on. They have a fantastic selection of films from Australia and all over the world. I’m also excited that I finally get to go to a festival and I can take my dad along too!”
For all ticketing and venue information for The Canberra Short Film Festival, head to the official website.
