The St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) is back for 2024 this June, and welcomes viewers to its grand 40th anniversary celebration, promising a larger and more daring event than ever before.
A plethora of short films will grace the screens over 10 eventful days, offering a record-breaking cinematic feast for enthusiasts.
This year’s lineup promises to sweep audiences away on a remarkable journey, showcasing the City of Port Phillip’s renowned theatress like The Astor Theatre and the Alex Theatre on Fitzroy Street, along with unexpected locales such as the South Melbourne Market.
From spine-chilling horror to lighthearted animation and comedy, and from captivating drama to poignant social commentary, the program offers something to captivate every viewer. Moreover, this diverse tapestry of storytelling is woven by a range of perspectives, including the creative contributions of talented First Nations and LGBTIQA+ filmmakers.ne.
Opening Night, at The Astor Theatre on Thursday 6 June a superb selection of Australian short films that will amaze, amuse and astound. Selected from a call for entries attracting hundreds of new short films from around the country, this year’s Opening Night event features a sensational program of comedies, powerful drama, animation, horror and fantasy, emceed by Brian Nankervis.
Proudly presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip, SKFF supports the Australian film industry by turning the spotlight on exceptional films by both emerging talent and short works by accomplished industry professionals.
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.
Program highlights
A Robot’s Dream
Director Morteza Halimi
In this animation, two robots, equipped with Artificial Intelligence, roam the post-apocalyptic world looking for humans to give them their purposes.
Blame The Rabbit
Director Elena Carapetis
After surviving a horrific assault by her husband, Helen uses the time of his incarceration to painstakingly rebuild herself into the entity that will have the most power over him: a beautiful woman. A modern take on the Gorgon myth about what happens when you disrespect the Divine Feminine.
Distant Space
Director Rohan Jones (Australian premiere)
In this sci-fi thriller, Robbie Scott is working for a commercial mining company on Mars. The vicissitudes of the alien Martian world and the commercial space base have dissolved his sense of humanity. He is morally and physically lost. Through an apparition of his daughter, his sense of humanity is restored, and he can be hopeful of rescue and redemption.
Edie and Audrey
Director Alexandra Millen (Australian premiere).
An older sister takes her younger sister out of the house for a day of movies, arcade games and bowling as a distraction to a more ominous situation unravelling at home.
The popular Pride Without Prejudice: LGBTQIA+ Showcase returns highlighting the sparkling diversity of the Australian LGBTQIA+ creative community at the Victorian Pride Centre on Sunday 16 June.
A highlight event as part of the First Nations program will be held at The Espy on Saturday 15 June: Through the Lens of Protest and Resistance. In this special session – MC’d by Tasha James, Manager of Indigenous Collection and Archives for ABC – SKFF presents a snapshot of First Peoples’ fight for justice and equality through the moving image.
SKFF is supported by major government partners Screen Australia and VicScreen.
For more information on screenings and bookings, visit: stkildafilmfestival.com.au
