ADVERTISEMENT

Palm Springs International ShortFest joins St Kilda Film Festival

St Kilda Film Festival will run from May 21-30 and is proud to announce its partnership with the internationally acclaimed Palm Springs International ShortFest.

For the second year running, Palm Springs International ShortFest will bring a selection of its best entries from the last two years to the St Kilda Film Festival through four exclusive showcases.

The Palm Springs International ShortFest is renowned worldwide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts and for the quality and scope of its programming, screening more than 300 films from over 50 countries this year.

Film lovers will be treated to four specially curated programs from the 2013 and 2014 Palm Springs International ShortFest at St Kilda Town Hall as part of the St Kilda Film Festival:

 Saturday 23 May – Animation Showcase 4.00pm
 Sunday 24 May – Jewish Showcase 2.00pm
 Sunday 24 May – Thriller Showcase 7.30pm
 Saturday 30 May – LGBT Showcase 5.30pm

Festival Producer Paul Harris said St Kilda Film Festival is delighted to have Palm Springs International ShortFest returning in 2015 to showcase a wide and diverse range of short films.

“The films showcased in the Palm Springs programs bring films from North America, South Africa, Europe, United Kingdom and India, providing film lovers a true taste of talent from around the world,” said Mr Harris.

Darryl MacDonald, Director of the Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs International ShortFest, said they are excited to put together some of the Festival’s best films just for Melbournians.

“We’re thrilled to once again be joining forces with the esteemed St Kilda Film Festival to bring film lovers Down Under a wide-ranging selection of accomplished short films from around the globe.

“For these talented emerging filmmakers to add their voices and visions to those of the gifted Australian filmmakers featured in the St Kilda Film Festival line up is a fitting platform for new international talent, and a vibrant showcase of kindred creative spirits who celebrate the short film art form with their work,” said Mr MacDonald.

Highlights of the international program include:
 Dragula – Director Frank Meli
Rocky Horror Picture Show's Barry Bostwick stars in Dragula, a coming of age musical about a high school senior who eliminates his self-esteem issues after attending Bostwick's amazing Drag performance.
 Kush – Director Shubhashish Bhutiani
Following the 1984 assassination of Indira Gandhi, a school field trip becomes a harrowing ordeal for a teacher trying to protect a 10-year-old Sikh boy from the growing violence around them.
 La Gouffre – Directors Carl Beauchemin, David Forest and Thomas Chrétien
A pair of young adventurers labour to build a gigantic bridge to cross an enormous gulf blocking the road ahead.
#twitterkills – Director Brett Sorem
A lonely Zoe (Sunah Bilsted), whose only friends are the 6,669 imaginary ones on twitter and her self-centred sister (Sarah Paulson) use social media to construct a perfect public persona. But creating a fake life has consequences and she's got a lesson to learn…that no good lie goes unpunished.

St Kilda Film Festival is also proud to welcome Dilcia Barrera, Short Film Programmer at Sundance Film Festival as the 2015 international guest. Ms Barrera will bring a wealth of film knowledge, having worked on some of the world’s biggest and best festivals.

The full St Kilda Film Festival program will be launched on Wednesday 29 April at the Film Buff’s Trivia Night, held at St Kilda Town Hall and hosted by Brian Nankervis. For further information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au

As one of Australia’s longest-standing and publicly-owned short film festival, the St Kilda Film Festival showcases exceptional films by emerging artists, providing the most comprehensive overview of the national short film industry.

The St Kilda Film Festival is proudly presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip and runs from Thursday 21 to Saturday 30 May at St Kilda’s Palais Theatre and Town Hall.