The St Kilda Film Festival is back for 2025 with another epic program featuring some of the brightest talent this country has to offer.
As Australia’s largest and longest-running short film festival, St Kilda Film Festival has become no less than a stalwart in the country’s film festival calendar. Featuring a plethora of screenings, talks and workshops across this year’s 11-day program – from June 5 to June 15 – the festival is your one-stop shop to witness some of the best nuggets of cinema to be coming out of Australia.
The 2025 program sees St Kilda Film Festival offer its most adventurous collection of films yet. Celebrating its 41st year, the festival continues to celebrate diversity both on the screen and behind the camera with a selection of flicks that will have you running back – popcorn in hand – for more.
St Kilda Film Festival
- June 5 to June 15
- The Palais Theatre, St Kilda Town Hall, South Melbourne Market and the Astor Theatre
- Over 150 films across 34 sessions
- More info here
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Across the varied program, you’ll discover works from both emerging talent and established legends. As an Academy Awards qualifying event, this showcase of cinematic superstars is widely considered a launchpad for new talent to connect, inspire, present and learn from other industry icons.
Over 150 films will screen across 34 curated sessions, featuring every kind of story – from cattle station dramas to First Nation traditional birthing practices. No matter your taste in cinema, there’s bound to be a delight awaiting you.
There are no two ways about it. The St Kilda Film Festival is the epicentre of Australia’s short film industry and is a playground for both cinephiles and filmmakers alike. Events like the free Filmmaker Development Program Presented by JMC Academy – the country’s largest – uplifts burgeoning creatives, while sessions like Under the Radar support young filmmakers at the beginning of their creative pursuits.
Some of Australia’s best filmmakers got their first start at St Kilda Film Festival. From Adam Elliot – the animator-magician behind Memoir of a Snail – to Jane Campion – the internationally-renowned auteur behind The Power of the Dog – you’re no doubt in with a chance of discovering the country’s next superstar to go up in international lights.
This year welcomes the festival’s largest First Nations line-up so far, platforming a varied array of voices from all corners of the country. There’ll also be a tidal wave of old-school formats hitting the festival’s screens, with 12 titles across the program embracing analogue formats.
Iconic venues to host a plethora of sessions
St Kilda Town Hall will act as the beating heart of this year’s festival. Deemed the ‘festival hub’, the Town Hall will be taking on a cabaret-style cinema makeover for the entire 11 days. Punters can expect a bar, DJs, an open-access Filmmaker Lounge, a truckload of screenings, plus some pumping live music on Friday nights.
The Opening Night Gala will be taking over the majestic Palais Theatre on St Kilda’s foreshore, kicking off the festival with a selection of films, drinks and tributes to the people who make the festival what it is.
Elsewhere across the festival’s program, you can expect events taking place all over Naarm’s southside, from South Melbourne Market to the Astor Theatre. Each screening session adheres to a theme, showcasing a selection of films that are connected in spirit yet unique in content.
From start to finish, the 11 days of the festival will be one massive celebration of the spectacular talent and dedicated hard work that acts as the foundation to this country’s short film industry.
Festival Passes are your passport to cinema magic
Whether you’re wanting to bring the kids along or you’re thirsty for a dose of documentary magic, the festival no doubt has your cinematic desires covered.
To be in with a chance of having the best possible experience at the festival, St Kilda Film Festival passes are on offer for film-hungry fanatics. Procuring a Festival Season Pass offers unlimited access to any and every screening session to take place at St Kilda Town Hall.
If you’re after just a taste of what’s on offer over the 11 days, a Six Session Pass offers access to half a dozen Town Hall screening sessions, while a Four Session Pass offers four Town Hall screening sessions.
To get you started with your festival planning, read on to discover the plethora of screenings and events that will be featured at St Kilda Film Festival this year.
Opening Night presented by Mandala Wines
- Thursday, June 5, 6:30pm
- Palais Theatre
- Tickets here
Opening Night After Party presented by Mandala Wines
- Thursday, June 5, 9:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Australian Comedy Showcase – Part 1
- Friday, June 6, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Dark Matters
- Friday, June 6, 8:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
International Family Animation Explosion – Free Screening #1
- Saturday June 7, 1pm
- The Astor Theatre
- Tickets here
An Afternoon with Joan Gratz
- Saturday, June 7, 2:30pm
- The Astor Theatre
- Tickets here
Brave New Worlds – Part 1
- Saturday, June 7, 4:30pm
- The Astor Theatre
- Tickets here
International Perspectives – Part 1
- Saturday, June 7, 6:30pm
- The Astor Theatre
- Tickets here
Tales Of Mystery and Imagination – Part 1
- Saturday, June 7, 8:30pm
- The Astor Theatre
- Tickets here
International Family Animation Explosion – Free Screening #2
- Sunday, June 8, 11am
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Documentary Showcase – Part 1
- Sunday, June 8, 12:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
We Were Children Once: VR Screening
- Sunday, June 8, 1pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
First Nations Women in Film
- Sunday, June 8, 2:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Joan Gratz: My Journey from Art Film to Cat Video
- Sunday, June 8, 3:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Drama Showcase – Part 1
- Sunday June 8, 4:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Singular Stories
- Sunday, June 8, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Shot To Thrill
- Sunday, June 8, 8:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Animation Showcase
- Monday, June 9, 12:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Moving Portraits
- Monday, June 9, 2:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
The Edge of Seventeen
- Monday, June 9, 4:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Tandem Tales
- Monday June 9, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Turning Points
- Monday, June 9, 8:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Family Ties
- Tuesday June 10, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Brave New Worlds – Part 2
- Tuesday, June 10, 8:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Adventures In Form
- Wednesday, June 11, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
International Perspectives – Part 2
- Wednesday, June 11, 8:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Festival Mixtape at the Market
- Thursday, June 12, 6:15pm
- South Melbourne Market Food Hall
- Tickets here
Under The Radar
- Thursday, June 12, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Animation Showcase at the Market
- Thursday, June 12, 8pm
- South Melbourne Market Food Hall
- Tickets here
Long Takes: Shorts Expanded
- Thursday, June 12, 9pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Australian Comedy Showcase – Part 2
- Friday June 13, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Brave New Worlds – Part 3
- Friday, June 13, 8:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
International Family Animation Explosion – Free Screening #3
- Saturday, June 14, 11am
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Analogue Experience
- Saturday, June 14, 12:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Shifting The Gaze presented by WIFT Vic
- Saturday, June 14, 2:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Drama Showcase – Part 2
- Saturday, June 14, 4:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Tales Of Mystery and Imagination – Part 2
- Saturday, June 14, 6:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Drama Showcase – Part 3
- Saturday, June 14, 8:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Documentary Showcase – Part 2
- Sunday, June 15, 1pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Pride Without Prejudice
- Sunday, June 15, 2pm
- Victorian Pride Centre
- Tickets here
See Me – A Film About Redro Redriguez panel
- Sunday, June 15, 2:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Made In VIC – Part 1 presented by VICSCREEN
- Sunday, June 15, 3pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Made in Vic – Part 2 presented by VICSCREEN
- Sunday, June 15, 4:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
Awards Ceremony and Closing Night Party
- Sunday, June 15, 7:30pm
- St Kilda Town Hall
- Tickets here
For more information on the St Kilda Film Festival, head here.
This article was made in partnership with St Kilda Film Festival.
