by Abhi Parasher
Now in its 39th year, St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) returned to the big screen on Thursday 1 June and runs until Monday 12 June 2023. SKFF is Australia’s longest-running short film festival, recognising the genre of short film, including music videos, gaming and immersive forms, celebrating some of Australia’s best local short filmmakers and screen artists.
The St Kilda Film Festival’s Top Short Films are judged by a panel of industry professionals, with the 2023 judging panel made up of Cinematographer Ellery Ryan, Producer Julie Ryan and Filmmaker Rhianna Malezer.
The winners of this year’s Best Short Film and Best Documentary will also be eligible for consideration in the OSCARS® Short Film and OSCARS® Documentary Shorts Award categories.
The 2023 St Kilda Film Festival’s most prestigious title of Best Short Film will see one of five nominees take home a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of City of Port Phillip. This year’s nominees for Best Short Film are Perspectives, By Lucas Wilson, Mud Crab, MYTH and Incarnation.
“Looking at all the wonderful films that we received and programmed this year, the Sophie’s Choice of the judging process is both excruciating and invigorating – they’re all performing at the top level,” says Festival Director Richard Sowada. “The fact that we can provide a potential pathway to the Oscars through our awards is a bonus for us, and we all feel personally connected to each and every one, along with the filmmakers behind them. What a year!”
This year’s winners will be announced at the St Kilda Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony on Sunday 11 June, 8.30pm at The Astor Theatre. There will be a special screening of all the Award winning films on Monday 12 June, 3pm at The Alex Theatre.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Zhao Shen – Famished Shell
Jason Kumwar – Marionettes
James Mountain – Mud Crab
Rainbow Chan – Butter: A Love Story
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND POST-PRODUCTION
John Kassab – Breathe
Jared Plant, Yee Lee + Bernard Winter – Incarnation
Nathan Turnball – Mud Crab
Folklore Sound – OUR HAUNT
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
James Taylor – Mud Crab
Geoff Hitchins – Svengali
Cal McLean – Hash Browns
Tania Nehme – MYTH
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY
Grace Tan – Lucky Peach
Neer Shelter – Perspectives
Elizabeth Packett – Tarneit
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN INDGENOUS FILMMAKING
Bangay Iore
The Lost Crystal’s in Jessica’s Room
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
Jaclyn Paterson – Mud Crab
Valentino Filimon – SUGA RUSH
Tania Lambert – MYTH
Bernard Winter – Incarnation
BEST YOUNG ACTOR
Ella Harrold – The Lost Crystal’s in Jessica’s Room
Sheldon Pickett – The Lost Crystal’s in Jessica’s Room
Calvin Black – Tarneit
Antanhe Zewdu – Tarneit
Federico Gazzilli – By Lucas Wilson
Lena Nankivell – MYTH
BEST ACTOR
Joshua Mehmet – Mud Crab
Jack Riley – Incarnation
Ben Gerrard – Svengali
Gael Ballantyne – Good Times and That’s Okay
BEST ANIMATION
Teacups
Dies Irae
The Only Photograph of Emily Dickinson, American Poet
Blockhead and Sparkles and the Flood of Tears
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Fearless: Jazmin Theodora
Memorabilia
Declutter
Galup VR Experience
BEST DIRECTOR
David Roberson – Smith
Neer Shelter – Perspectives
Bernard Winter – Incarnation
Alies Sluiter – MYTH
CRAFT AWARD
$2000 cash prize sponsored by VicScreen
Dies Irae
SUGA RUSH
TREES
Famished Shell
BEST SHORT FILM AWARD
Perspectives
By Lucas Wilson
Mud Crab
MYTH
Incarnation
SKFF is supported by major government partners Screen Australia and VicScreen.
For more information visit: www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au