Australia’s biggest short film festival has also announced initiatives to support the local film industry.
Returning for its 37th year running, St Kilda Film Festival 2020 will look a little different than previous iterations. Faced with having to cancel due to coronavirus restrictions, the festival organisers have opted to take the beloved short film showcase online to celebrate and support the local industry.
“Cinema is about action and ideas, so we’re embracing the opportunity to deliver the Festival in this new form,” said Festival Director, Richard Sowada. “The virtual program will be just as packed, providing audiences nationally the chance to experience the hub of emerging Australian talent the Festival is known for.”
The full program will be revealed in May, though cinephiles can expect a number of curated sessions along with festival mainstay, the Australia’s Top 100 Short Films competition. In a bid to support the creative industry, St Kilda Film Festival has also announced it will be refunding entry fees for all 598 entrants for this year’s festival.
Additionally, all films selected for the Top 100 competition will receive payment in the form of a screening fee.
“We know the creative industry has been hit hard during this time and the City of Port Phillip really thrives on creativity,” said City of Port Phillip Mayor, Bernadene Voss. “We hope the St Kilda Film Festival will not only provide a vital voice for the Australian filmmaking industry during this time, but also continue to celebrate the arts for everyone in our community to enjoy.”
All programs and films involved in this year’s festival will be available to watch online for free from Friday June 12 until Saturday June 20 across Australia, so you can enjoy the incredible work of local filmmakers from the comfort of your couch.
The full program will be announced in May. For more information, head to the St Kilda Film Festival website.
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