by FilmInk Staff
The 12th annual SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3) has named its finalists.
And the Sydney-founded – now international – hit film fest that puts movie-making in the hands of everyone and every age, will again take place at the Sydney Opera House (SOH) – this year on Nov 1.
Following its ‘Mini’ and Feature Film screening – presented with Eventspec at the White Bay Power Station in Rozelle on Saturday night 31 October – the fest moves to iconic Bennelong Point – with the SF3 Kids finals and Awards Ceremony in the SOH Playhouse from 10.15am.
Then – the thrilling climax – the annual SF3 Gala Finals in the same venue from 4.30pm.
And Melbourne gets its own taste with the MINA and SF3 Film Festival at ACMI in Fed Square on 20 November from 6pm.
A record 400 entries including 19 feature films and 16 AI films entered from 70+ countries including some new ones such as Sudan, Georgia, Malaysia, Thailand, Czechia, Luxembourg, Peru, Pakistan, Romania, China. Plus all ‘the usual suspects’ of Australia, America, the UK, South Africa Western Europe.
The best of them will face off in front of a slew of industry A-listers, festival ambassadors and celebrity and industry judges for a share of more than $50,000 in prizes.
James Demitri of Hurlstone Park in Sydney returns to back up his Best Feature Film award last year, with a new full-length movie: Three Chapters – a queer, horror and drama anthology with a twist – is the perfect Halloween treat (or trick!).
Gala Finals highlights this year include: Storyboard: the Musical from first-time filmmaker Jordan Gibbs from the USA – a stunning musical hybrid live action and animation made with his animator sister; No Bears Allowed is made by Sydney dad/daughter duo, Jimmy and Stevie Gannon, but the film was written and directed by Stevie, who is only 7 years old, making her our youngest ever Gala Director. Fun fact: she starred in an SF3 finalist film 7 years ago as a newborn and is back as a filmmaker!
The Hole [above], by NIDA grad team of Sean Luther Hall and Josh Stewart, starring Albert Mwangi who has appeared in Bump, Tom Swift, Primitive War and Jack Ellis who starred in A Place to Call Home, Mr InBetween, Home & Away and Sweet River; There are two films by filmmakers with a disability – What Life Can Be and You Won’t Be Left Behind; The Weight of Mercy is a stunning western sci-fi, starring 2025 winner Tatjana Marjanovich.
In the SF3 Kids section, there’s a super-cute hospital drama satire Code Blue from the youngest kids at Centre Stage Academy in Blacktown from Sydney’s West and the best special effects in the whole fest come from teenage Aston Di Donato of Port Kembla in Hero-Man.
There’s also an incredible film about water and memory plus a deeply moving movie about the cost of living crisis and one man’s decision for the sake of his daughter.
The Mini Screening is diverse: from crochet murders to super-heroes, from a father-daughter disagreement to a ‘good time’ ruined by AI. There’s something for everyone!
As in previous years, all Gala films must be 20 mins or less; Sf3 Kids films are for filmmakers 18 and under and must be 10 minutes or less; SF3 Mini films must be 3 minutes or less and the word to be inspired by is “GO”; SF3 AI is for films written by a human and made using generative AI.
Major sponsors include Blackmagic (Gold Sponsor), Melodie and Try & Byte (Silver Sponsors), Chicken & Chips Casting, Røde Microphones and Rubber Monkey (Bronze).
Australian international filmmaker Phillip Noyce heads the Ambassadors list and the judging panel that includes Louis Nowra, Serhat Caradee, Ros Gentle, Joe Ochman, Yolandi Franken and Megan Riakos.
SF3 Festival Director and co-founder Angela Blake says she’s been privileged to experience the richness and diversity in stories from all corners of the Globe. “However, this year we have especially been treated to an incredible array of stories from local Australian filmmakers. Aussies are amazing story-tellers and it is so exciting to see so many – especially kids – picking up their phones and tablets and sharing their world and their creativity with us. Audiences are in for a real treat.”
SF3 Ambassador, Australian international actor Kerry Armstrong says SF3 is one of Australia’s most important annual cultural events. “I love the idea that all you need is a smartphone and your creativity. There is a great deal of freedom there, especially for young and emerging filmmakers to create now instead of having to wait until film school or wait until they can save enough money to buy a bigger camera. There’s no barrier to making a film and the world is a much better place for it.”
Tickets for all session are available at www.sf3.com.au with full program, awards categories and prizes also detailed.
