Presented by City of Port Phillip the program features more than 100 films to be shown over 18 screening sessions at venues across St Kilda, and for the first time also bursting out of St Kilda and into South Melbourne. The famous opening night event will return to The Palais on Thursday 1 June, welcoming back full capacity crowds for the first time in four years.
Drawn from a call for entries from hundreds of new short films from around the country, this year’s red-carpet opening night gala event features a sensational program of comedies, powerful drama, animation, horror and fantasy, emceed by the hilarious Claire Hooper. The screening will be followed by an after party which expands into Encore at St Kilda Sea Baths for a spectacular celebration of Australian short films.
This year’s program will take audiences on an incredible journey through some of Port Phillip’s iconic theatres including The Palais Theatre, The Astor Theatre and the Alex Theatre, as well as through many other creative and welcoming spaces throughout St Kilda and South Melbourne – both well-known hubs for the filmmaking community as well as fabulous destinations to eat, drink and celebrate. In 2023 SKFF has drawn entries from an almost equal split of female and male directors and the festival is very privileged to be able to screen the work of these Australian filmmakers and showcase so many stories. Program highlights include:
Melbourne on Dylan (director Chris Franklin) – The Australian premiere of this documentary delves into Bob Dylan’s connection with Melbourne and explores the deep love of music we all have and the life- changing moments that start us on the long journey of exploration and appreciation.
MumLife (director Ruby Challenger) – This musical follows Sarah, a first-time mother from Sydney, who is struggling to connect with her newborn baby. She is pushed to her limits when she discovers a surprise birthday party has been organised for her 30th by her Insta-famous bestie.
Run South (directors Frank Magree, David Cleeve) – An Australian soldier is held captive during the Vietnam war. A young marine enters his world, presenting him with a harrowing choice.
Hen (director Alice Tovey) – When non-binary Gem attends their mate’s hen’s night, the girls turn from bubbly bridesmaids to raunchy demons. Gem could never have known just how far they would get under their skin.
Gravel Road (director Tristan Pemberton) – This documentary follows an eventful tour through the outback of Western Australia by the world’s most remote rock band, Desert Stars. This award-winning feature length documentary presents an engaging chronicle of an Indigenous rock band that fuses Traditional Aboriginal Culture with Western Rock ‘n’ Roll as they embark on their debut tour across the outback. This is a highlight event as part of the First Nations program held at The Espy.
Blockhead and Sparkles and the Flood of Tears (Lauren Orrell, Digby Webster) – Best friends Blockhead and Sparkles are struggling under the pressure of running their own cake shop, but when the Sad Prince’s tears threaten to flood the entire village, they must do what they can to mend their friendship and save the day.
All the familiar favourite showcases and programs are back for 2023 to take audiences on a diverse journey through the medium of short film, including:
Australian Comedy Showcase is back for a mighty good dose of surreal headspace, absurd situations, idiot mate-ship, an art director’s dream and recipes for disaster. These are excellent pieces and a fun glimpse of that special twist of weirdness Aussie humour is known for.
Victorian Pride Centre once again hosts the LGBTQIA+ program, Pride Without Prejudice. After selling out at last year’s SKFF, this program is back with a wonderful showcase of short films full of heart, strength, and vitality.
Dark Matters (presented by Crumpler) is always one of the most popular sessions in SKFF, exploring the sinister boundaries of Aussie horror. The horror of the horror may be just too horrific for most horror fans!
International Family Animation Explosion (presented by Indomie) is curated for families and kids of all ages by the director of the Melbourne International Animation Festival, Malcolm Turner. Expect a fantastic collection of new animations drawn from around the world.
Australian Documentary Showcase highlights a phenomenal year for Australian short documentary. This excellent series of films shuttles backwards and forwards in time and technology as we’re twice taken to space, the core of the 1960s hippy movement from Melbourne and many more weird and wonderful journeys.
Crime & Punishment is full of great documentary portraiture, tough suburban drama, a dash of fantasy and a splash of comedy.
Brave New Worlds: Australian Cinematic Visions showcases the level of creative ambition in this year’s festival. This series features striking imagery and bold brush strokes that are equally impressive and inspiring. Expect to be astonished at every turn, exploring form, genre and narrative structures.
Australian Drama Showcase highlights how the past few years have seen filmmakers really hone their skills in constructing and telling stories to explore small and profound interactions. In part 1 of this 2-part dramatic program, expect striking, personal stories, First Nations’ experiences, lonesome roads and tender moments.
Shifting the Gaze is a collaboration with Women in Film & TV, featuring a dazzling array of new films made by women. This cracking session covers the works from social justice animation, powerful social comment, musical, striking minimalism and tales from far flung front lines very finely drawn.
Australian Animation Showcase has always taken pride of place at SKFF. This program is packed with a variety of animated styles and forms, from quiet poetic beauty to heartbreaking animated documentary to medieval sorcery and mischief. It never stops surprising and is guaranteed to get people talking.
Under the Radar is a SKFF competition showcasing the 10 best short films from young filmmakers across Australia, assessed, judged and organised by the City of Port Phillip FReeZA committee, who themselves are talented young creatives. The winner receives $1,000 prize money and the encouragement to keep creating and honing their craft. Under the Radar aims to support and elevate young people interested in pursuing careers in the arts.
Tales of Mystery and Imagination is one of the SKFF director’s favourite programs. This year’s journey through sci-fi and fantasy is a mix of vision, colour and sheer guts and glorious filmmaking. These works tell stories of spirit stones, parallel times, off-world intrigue and solitary prison life.
Two of a Kind: Tandem Tales is a testament to the strength of scripts and directorial deftness of their creators.
Acoustics, Abstractions & Esoterics showcase a high-level of experimentation, risk and ambition in this year’s program. These works are unique in form, style and intent and push audiences all the way.
Made in Victoria session #1 and #2 (presented by VicScreen) are packed with animations, twisted comedy, breathtaking visualisation and sparkling dramatic turns. This is an evening not to be missed on the local screen calendar and coupled with the Awards Ceremony and Networking Event on Sunday 11 June, is the perfect way to close out the 2023 program.
Richard Sowada, SKFF Director said: “We can’t wait to welcome back full capacity audiences for our biggest ever year. Audiences can look forward to an expanded program across St Kilda and beyond bringing short films to where people live. We’re embracing adventure and ambition and amplifying voices from all corners of the country. The festival embraces a range of traditional film forms and new and emerging ones including computer games, table-top games, VR and everything between to celebrate Victorian achievements in film.”
For more information on screenings and bookings, visit: www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au
Now in its 39th year, St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) returns to the big screen across Thursday 1 June – 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.
SKFF is supported by major government partners Screen Australia and VicScreen.
The full film list
101 Days of Lockdown
Director: Jelena Sinik
Producer: Boyd Britton, Jelena Sinik, Nicolette Axiak
2Boys 1Girl 1Chicken
Director: Lavis Anania-Kibale
Producer: Cath Murphy
A Beating Heart
Director: Julian Maguire
Producer: Julian Maguire
A HOUSE
Director: Matthew D. Taylor
Producer: Katherine Shearer
A Rose for Katrina
Director: Harry Quinlan
Producer: Lawrence Phelan
Abrupt Chaos
Director: Wilkins Ho
Producer: Andrijana Blazevic, David Tran
All that you love will be carried away
Director: Maria Isabel de la Ossa
Producer: Maria Isabel de la Ossa
Am I The Only One Seeing Ghosts Around Prahran?
Producer: Joe Kenny
Backfire
Director: Jacob Sadler, Emily Hestelow, Will Savage
Producer: Matthew Gidney
Baŋgay lore
Director: Jahvis Raine li Loveday, Kiahma O’donovan
Producer: Jahvis RaineAli Loveday, Kiahma O’donovan
Big Rig
Director: Thomas Elliott
Black Canvas
Director: Kaye Tuckerman
Producer: Kaye Tuckerman, Ben McHugh
Black Wing
Director: Tim Main
Producer: Anna Mannix
Blockhead and Sparkles and the Flood of Tears
Director: Lauren Orrell, Digby Webster
Producer: Rosie Lourde
Body Rhapsody
Director: Yangming Liu
Producer: Shiyun Zhang
Bonding
Director: Luke Rex
Producer: Luke Rex
boy/beast
Director: Andrew Shaw
Producer: Anna Barouh Davis, Andrew Shaw
Breathe
Director: Lesley Pinder
Producer: Hayley Surgenor
Bucket in the Forest
Director: Blaise Borrer
Producer: Beatrice Tekiko
Butter: A Love Story
Director: Anita Lee
Producer: Lucy Rennick, Michael Santos, Anita Lee
By Lucas Wilson
Director: Daniel Berini, Marlo Kelly
Producer: Simon Jackman, Erin Moy, Daniel Berini
CAPTCHA
Director: Mathew Francis
Producer: Lachlan Kendall
Cusp
Director: Erika Felton
Producer: Alex Martin, Erika Felton
Declutter
Director: Jackson Hayat
Producer: Jackson Hayat
Dies Irae
Director: Maru Collective
Producer: Maru Collective
Disparate fragments form patterns
Director: Paul Edmund Fletcher
Don’t Come In… Yet!
Director: Isaac Dean Elliott
Producer: Matthew Burns, Tessa Mansfield-Hung
Downpour
Director: Henry Reimer Meaney, Tom Chalmers
Producer: Melisa Daly
Echoes of Darkness
Director: Jonathon Le Grice
Producer: Liam Shaw
Famished Shell
Director: Idan Kotzen
Fearless: Jazmin Theodora
Director: Nicole Sullivan
Producer: Nicole Sullivan
Flappy
Director: Darcy Conlan
Fungus
Director: Ryan Maddox
Producer: Mark Andrew Millar
Galup VR Experience
Director: Ian Wilkes, Poppy van Oorde-Grainger
Producer: Poppy van Oorde-Grainger
Good Times and That’s Okay
Director: Amanda Kaye
Producer: David Gim, Amanda Kaye
Goodbye, Munchkin
Director: Andrew Pham
Producer: Pauline Pham
Hairsucker
Director: Michael Jones, Paddy Jessop
Halfway
Director: Dayne Hudson
Producer: Dayne Hudson
Handmade Happiness
Director: Vivien Mason
Producer: Vivien Mason
Hash Browns
Director: Cal McLean, Alexandra Nell
Producer: Alzbeta Rekosh
Helicopter Tjungurrayi
Director: Ankit Mishra
Producer: Tim Hilferty
Hen
Director: Alice Tovey
Producer: Alice Tovey, Frankie McNair, Struthers Murray
Hiraeth
Director: Alexander Wardrop
Producer: Alexander Wardrop
I am Daniel
Director: Katrina Channells, Simon Rose Birriah
Producer: Katrina Channells, Tess McArthur-Dowty
I wanted to be a butterfly
Director: Raquel Rose Potenza
Producer: Raquel Rose Potenza
Incarnation
Director: Bernard Winter
Producer: Bernard Winter
Just Alright
Director: Gregory Kelly
Producer: Sam McSweeney
Leviathan
Director: Cathal Geaney
Producer: Cathal Geaney
Lucky Peach
Director: Grace Tan
Producer: Sophia O’Rourke, Andrew McMartin
Marionettes (and the virtue of a lotus flower)
Director: Prajdnik Awasthi
Melbourne on Dylan
Director: Chris Franklin
Memorabilia
Director: Ceridwen Dovey, Rowena Potts
Producer: Ceridwen Dovey
Mine Mine Mine
Director: Duncan Ragg
Producer: Rebecca Lamond, Anna Phillips
Mud Crab
Director: David Robinson-Smith
Producer: Adam Daniel, Adam Finney
Mum Life
Director: Ruby Challenger
Producer: Claudia Shepherd
Myth
Director: Alies Sluiter
Producer: William Littleton
Opposites Day
Director: Elliot Clifford
Producer: Elliot Clifford
OUR HAUNT
Director: Daniel Ashley Reisinger
Producer: Daniel Ashley Reisinger & Henry Richardson
Pastel Hell
Director: Hugo Kit Miklos Vadasz
Producer: Rachael Morrow
Patterns of the Afternoon
Director: Maddelin McKenna
Producer: Claudia Nankervis
Peddler
Director: Wade Ranson
Producer: Wade Ranson, Sarah McSweeney
Perspectives
Director: Neer Shelter
Producer: Kristen Hodges
Pink Reef
Director: Chloe de Brito
Producer: Chloe de Brito
Pockets of Permanence
Director: Emma Ikin
Producer: Emma Ikin
PRAWN
Director: Ella Maree Carey
Producer: Ella Carey, Caitlin Spiller
Rainbow
Director: Cameron Andrew Zayec
Producer: Cameron Andrew Zayec
Requiem
Director: Rowena Potts
Producer: Ceridwen Dovey
Run South
Director: Frank Magree, David Cleeve
Producer: Paul Henri, Made Rama Trang, Frank Magree
Sam and Sophie
Director: Caitlin Bryan, Ben Bryan
Producer: Louis Dickins, Barry Dickins, Sarah Mogridge
Six of One
Director: Minka Rose Bleakley
Producer: Isobel Jones
SKIN
Director: Honieh Vashaee
Producer: Daniel Sellers
Songbirds
Director: Stefan Bugryn
Static
Director: Miri Wilson
Producer: Thomas Athan
Street No. 4
Director: Lark Lee
Producer: Lark Lee
SUGA RUSH
Director: Valentino Filimon
Producer: Valentino Filimon
Svengali
Director: James Robert Woods
Producer: Stephanie Jane Day
Tall Poppy
Director: Brian Henson
Producer: Vince Raisa, Brian Henson, Rita Peruggi, Grant Anderson
Tarneit
Director: John Sheedy
Producer: Andre Lima
Teacups
Director: Alec Green, Finbar Watson
Producer: Alan Holly, Alec Green, Finbar Watson, Carla Vulpiani
The Eel Farm
Director: Rhys Day
Producer: Donald Mallard
The Empyrean
Director: Hannah Smith
Producer: Hannah Smith, Berry Salem
The Girl in the Gramophone
Director: Klaus Banadinovich
Producer: Sophie Cellier
The List
Director: Samuel Faull
Producer: Olivia Carolan
The Lost Crystals of Jessica’s Room
Director: Gary Hamaguchi
Producer: Jodie Bell
The More The Storm
Director: Nathan Croft
Producer: Victoria Schaw
The Only Photograph of Emily Dickinson, American Poet
Director: Dennis Tupicoff
Producer: Dennis Tupicoff
The Outside Dunny
Director: Walter Smithers
Producer: Walter Smithers, Sarah Baker, Rebecca Madin, Alita Graziano, Ruby Walker
The Party Job
Director: Raechelle Banno
Producer: Raechelle Banno, Karina Banno, Ryan Harrison, Paul Berenger
The Rainbow is also in the Right Place
Director: Melvin Francis Kwong
Producer: Melvin Francis Kwong
The Rise
Director: Angus Goozee
Producer: Angus Goozee
The Soft-Skinned
Director: Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe
Producer: Anastasia Charisiou, Phoebe Graham
The Wavy Handed God
Director: Zac Gillam
Producer: Zac Gillam
TREES
Director: Benjamin Bryan
Producer: Mark Duncan
Tuī Ná
Director: William Duan
Producer: Mimo Mukii
Victim
Director: Robin Summons
Producer: Ned Donohoe
Visitors
Director: Alex Badham
Producer: Nikki Castle
Voice Activated
Director: Steve Anthopoulos
Producer: Liam Heyen, Yingna Lu
We Circle Silently
Director: Kate Blackmore
Producer: Colm O’Callaghan
We, the Children of Caterpillars
Director: James Haggarty
Producer: Hayden Flynn
Wirnitj
Director: Karla Hart
Producer: Komixx – Amanda Morrison, Roslyn Park, Lucy Verity
A Workman’s Grave
Director: James Dudfield
Producer: Xavier Gray
Bloody Brilliant
Director: Giulia Assenza
Producer: Sarah Pierce
Guided
Director: Sam Davison
Host Destination
Director: Eleni Modinos
Producer: Eleni Modinos, Marcus Hollands
Le Devenir de Pierrot
Director: Kaley Heather Shortus
Producer: Kaley Heather Shortus
Mattock
Director: Hugo Morris
Producer: Hugo Morris, Guillem Riera Royo
Otter & Fox
Director: Benjamin Rohan
Producer: Carmelo Keating
Speed datin’!
Director: Roxy Ufton Diamond
The Adults Are Talking
Director: Pollyanna Hepzibah Carveth
Producer: Pollyanna Hepzibah Carveth
A Trip Down Murder Lane
Director: Luke Usatoff
Producer: Jamieson Kane
Hi
Director: Ling Ling Xu
Arlo Sings The Blues
Director: R.J. Sullivan
I’m A Witch
Director: Zoe Medcraft
Cel
Director: Marc Agosta
Papirola
Director: Fabián Molinaro
Early Birds
Director: Cole Stevenson
Mouse House
Director: Time Leder
Sign up
Director: Philip Watts
The Ordinary
Director: Rutger van de Wiel
Befriend The Wind
Director: Aneta Pauliny
Hide
Director: Shaochen Wang
Andy, A Dog’s Tale
Director: James Wheless
Cool For You
Director: Sherene Strausberg
Wonderfully Made
Director: Joseph Hoh
