St Kilda Film Festival brings heart-warming, emotional, honest and timely stories to the big screen

Friday 27 May – Sunday 5 June

St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) kicks off on Friday 27 May for 10 days, presenting raw, beautiful and unapologetic films from across Australia, presented by City of Port Phillip. Expect films from filmmakers such as Nash Edgerton and Matthew Saville, and actors including Rose Byrne, Kelton Pell and Stephen Curry, as well as emerging filmmakers with diverse stories, many reflecting the turbulent past two years. In addition, expect special events and a Free Filmmaker Development Program.

The Big Picture takes place at JMC Academy Park Street Campus and consists of a series of filmmaking-related workshops, forums, panels, exhibitions, screenings and Q&As, hosted by Australia’s top emerging and established film talents.  The Big Picture will have events all day, concluding with Networking Drinks.  Sessions include a Q&A about on-screen intimacy; a hands-on session focused on the use of a steadicam and a workshop for filming and acting with firearms, and many more unique and exciting opportunities, click this link to see more. 

Some SKFF program highlights include: The Australian Documentary Showcase (29 May, The Astor Theatre):

Last Meal (Directors Marcus McKenzie, Daniel Principe) asks what do the condemned eat before their execution? Narrated by Hugh Ross (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) Last Meal presents a banquet of death row inmates’ final feasts and shines a light on our understanding of the individuals and the institutions meting out capital punishment.

Inferno (Director Samuel Rodwell), when dry lightning ignites a destructive bushfire atop of Mount Canobolas threatening 156 houses and vital multi-million-dollar infrastructure, 120 volunteer firefighters deploy to stop the blaze before devastation consumes their entire community. Capturing two rural fire brigades in action on the frontlines against a ferocious fire front during the deadly heat of an Australian summer.

Dark Matters (Friday 3 June, The Astor Theatre)

Shark (director Nash Edgerton) Starring Rose Byrne and Nash Edgerton, Shark is the story of Jack, a well-meaning, misunderstood prankster. His previous relationships have suffered due to his ex-girlfriends not really appreciating his sense of humour. But things are looking up for Jack. It seems he’s met his match in Sofie, who also loves to prank. What could go wrong? (pictured left)

Nest (director James Hunter) An isolated father haunted by his child’s cries of hunger takes up work as a timber feller, only to find his operations halted by a mysterious alarm coming from deep in the woods.

Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said: “The Andrews Labor Government is proud to continue backing the Victorian screen industry and this dynamic festival, that champions creativity and storytelling. The 2022 program is jam-packed with exceptional local talent, and I’m looking forward to seeing these films come to life on the silver screen.”

Richard Sowada, St Kilda Film Festival director said: “It’s been a real pleasure and great honour being part of the life of these important works and these filmmakers. It’s something we don’t take for granted, and we can’t wait to share the ambition, passion, authenticity and scope of these new Australian short films with local, and in some cases, national audiences.”

LGBTQIA+ program Pride Without Prejudice (Sunday 29 May, Victorian Pride Centre):

Beautiful They (Director Cloudy Rhodes) A tender, uplifting queer surf-romance about the nuance of gender and the refuge found in being truly seen. (pictured above right)

Are you Still Watching? (Director Tali Polichtuk, Kitty Chrystal) Jamie is a 20 something year old non-binary person living in Melbourne. They’re whip-smart, creative and have an encyclopaedic knowledge of cinema and pop culture. They’re also single, bored and perpetually horny. Are You Still Watching? explores the emancipatory power of the queer imagination, combining erotic fan fiction tropes, magical realism and a firm camp sensibility.

Haze (Director Meg Duncan) Premiering at SKFF, Haze uses an old camcorder to film their body at night. When their mother finds the camera and watches Haze’s private video, the shimmers of new understandings penetrate the day.

Acts for the invisible (Director Kate Vinen) A philosophical fashion designer loses his life partner and is propelled towards an entirely new life distanced from the world of fashion. But can we ever really leave an old life behind?

Shifting the Gaze: Women in Film in collaboration with Women in Film & TV (Saturday 4 June, The Astor Theatre):

You and Me Before and After (Director Madeleine Gottlieb) Two adult sisters learn to like each other while getting their first tattoos. Stuck side by side in the chair with nothing to do but talk, they are forced to confront a shared history that is as painful as it is hilarious.

Living with Greg (Director Indigo Mae Tait-Aitkin) In this premiere Gina struggles to leave the confinement of her home as she navigates fragments of a turbulent relationship.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Getting Married (Director Karen Jackson) Also a premiere, Emma and Max are engaged but have very different ideas of what their wedding day will look like. Enter Scarlet, their friend and self-appointed sassy diva boss wedding planner. Scarlet hatches some weird and wonderful plans to help salvage their romantic union and teach Emma and Max the most important lesson of happily ever after – compromise.

Made in Victoria #1 and #2 Presented by VicScreen (Saturday 4 June, The Astor Theatre):

Amissa Anima (Director Tatiana Doroshenko) Four boys survive on the seedy night streets of St Kilda’s red-light district in Australia in the 1980s.

Ascenders (Director Matthew Saville) Premiering at SKFF, this is a short film where the plot begins when the end credits roll. (pictured above left)

Seeds (Director Simon McWilliam) Nelson has always felt more at home with flora than fauna. While Nelson struggles to resist this calling, his friend and father struggle to come to terms with what they think is ‘unnatural’.

This year’s red-carpet Opening Night (Friday 27 May, The Astor Theatre) event includes a premiere of Hatchback (Director Riley Sugars) starring Stephen Curry as Vince, who attempts to dispose of a dead body for the mob, but when he reluctantly enlists the help of his dim-witted brother-in-law Ted, things don’t go to plan.

Ishmael (Director Toby Morris) Filmed primarily at sea onboard an active fishing trawler, Ishmael is a blending of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick with a personal story of a battle with terminal illness.

For more information on all screenings and bookings, visit: stkildafilmfestival.com.au

Now in its 39th year St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) returns to the big screen across Friday 27 May – Sunday 5 June 2022. 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.