FORUM FEVER: Update #2

From Shorts to Longs 

Wednesday, May 23rd 

8pm to 9.30pm

How does a filmmaker make the transition between making short and feature films? Can I use my short film as a trailer for my feature? Find out the answers to these confounding questions with a series of anecdotes and helpful hints from some of the freshest film industry talents.

Making a Music Video --

Everything You Need to Know 

Thursday, May 24th

6.30pm to 8pm

'Thriller', 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Single Ladies'... What do all these songs have in common? They all have very memorable music videos. Not only is it a great marketing tool -- it's another level of artistic expression. Learn tips for effective music video production from industry pros like Natasha Pincus, who directed Australia's most-viewed online video, Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used To Know' (nearly 200 million views). Darren Middleton, from seminal rock band Powderfinger, will also be talking about his experiences with both film and music.

'Making a Music Video' will be the perfect lead-up to SoundKilda music video competition -- which follows straight after, at The Astor.  

Get Animated -- Annecy and Beyond

Friday, May 25th

6pm to 7.30pm

Join Oscar nominee Anthony Lucas (The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello),Oscar winner Adam Elliot (Harvey Krumpet, Mary and Max) and advertising and stop-motion guru Glen Hunwick in their discussion of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the ever-expanding world of animated cinema. This forum is moderated by Robert Stephenson, who teaches at the VCA and has a film in this year's Top 100 -- the satirical animation Paris Lakes (which was screened at Annecy last year).

NEWS 08.05.12

As the Festival gets closer, more success stories are flooding in regarding our Top 100 films.  Excitement!

The Palace is Picture Perfect

Another win for Australian-Cypriot co-production of The Palace (the film won several awards at the South Australian Screen Awards), Nick Matthews has been awarded Best Cinematography in the short film category.

A tense and stark film, set during the political and social unrest in 70’s Cyprus, The Palace has been widely acclaimed since its release last year.   

The Palace screens at SKFF in Session 8 of the Top 100 program, Saturday May 26^th 3pm – 4.30pm

VCA Wins Youth Spirit

Victorian College of the Arts graduate Andrew Kavanagh has won the national Spirit of Youth Award thanks to his efforts on two short films, Men of the Earth and At the Formal – the latter of which will be screening at SKFF. Originally from North Carlton, Kavanagh will be travelling to Los Angeles and receive mentorship from Australian-born director Robert Luketic (of Legally Blonde fame) on Hollywood film sets.

At the Formal is a surreal thriller, with a darkly humorous twist, screens at SKFF in Session 13 of the Top 100 program, Sunday May 27^th 2pm – 3.30pm

AFTRS Cannes Do

 Australian Film, Television and Radio School is screening six of the school’s most outstanding short films in the Aus/NZ focused ‘Cinema des Antipodes’ program at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Two of the exhibited, ‘Emily’ and ‘Moth’ films will be in competition in the Top 100.

Emily, a psychological thriller (which was recently nominated for a Student Academy Award) screens at SKFF in Session 7 of the Top 100 program, Saturday May 26^th 1.30pm – 3pm

Moth, a story of escapism, screens at SKFF in Session 15 of the Top 100 program, Sunday May 27^th 6.30pm – 8pm

CONGRATULATIONS to the above films. Talent is emerging from everywhere and we’re thrilled to showcase some of Australia’s best right here, in St Kilda, in 14 days!

Xoxo

(Gossip) Intern  

FORUM FEVER: Part 1

In 2011 SKFF asked filmmaking enthusiasts what they'd like to see more of at the Festival. The overwhelming response to this question was MORE FORUMS! So the wonderful program developers answered with double the forums - which address subjects from music video production to pitching to editing and beyond.

The first in the series is 'Pitch Clinic'...  

It's a well-known fact that pitching an idea to funding bodies or production companies can be very intimidating. To guide film practitioners through the process of pitching, from emerging talents to established auteurs, the Pitch Clinic's panel of industry experts will assess five shortlisted pitches and give feedback. 

If you've got an idea for a film project, we encourage you to submit a one page outline to the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre at Victoria University, email: ESP@vu.edu.au

Wednesday, May 23  

6pm to 7.30pm 

  

The Wonderful World of Annecy

Eclectic. Exciting. Bizarre. Whimsical. These are some of the words you could use to describe the animations to expect at Annecy, the world's premiere animation festival. Since its 1960 inception, the Festival has continually supported the emergence of new creative talent. To celebrate this institution, St Kilda Film Festival is offering its patrons the opportunity to explore the world of Annecy through two sessions, showcasing some of the best of the Festival between 1997 and 2011.

Best of Annecy: Program One (1997 to 2004) 
Elderly monks in love, and surreal train stations, revolutions of crustaceans and gender transformation. Sounds like the surreal lyrics of a B-52s song.


Best of Annecy: Program Two (2004 to 2011) 
Clever visual trickery, innovative stop-motion techniques and elegantly crafted stories - the love of animation is clearly evident in these films.

For more information about Annecy, you can visit the website at http://annecy.org/home or to read more about the films selected for SKFF's special programs, visit http://www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/2012/flipbook.html

TRIVIA WINNERS

The guys from 'The Bazura Project' movie show (ABC TV) won, in a display of Tarantino-esque cinematic knowledge.

Program is OUT!!!

That's right. The program for the St Kilda Film Festival was officially launched at last night's Film Buff's Trivia and is ready for your perusal. Highlights of 2012's stellar line-up include the much-mentioned Australia's Top 100 Short Films, SoundKilda Music Video Competition, Cork Film Festival showcase, Annecy animation showcase, Industry Open Day, and Blaze of Glory. The festival kicks off in 19 days and 6 hours (according to the clever countdown thing on the website) with all the bells and whistles of Opening Night which will give audiences a tantilising teaser of the standard of film fare to come. World premieres for Suspended, Am I Okay and Bonny Doon on the night will surely bring an air of antici...pation and the mysterious compere will shock and delight (maybe not shock) throughout the evening... All for $30!! Definitely one of the best things to do on a Tuesday night!

Will update soon!

Cheery regards,

Copywriter2000

Ticketing and program details are available at  http://www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/2012/flipbook.html

DIRECTOR PROFILE: BEN MATTHEWS

SKFF Festival Director, Paul Harris, had the opportunity to interview Top 100 participant, Ben Matthews, who was recently nominated for a 'Student Oscar'. The interview can be heard at http://www.rrr.org.au/program/film-buff-s-forecast/ and here's a brief profile of the young director: 

Graduate of AFTRS (Australian Film, Television and Radio School), Ben Matthews wrote the first story outline for his short film Emily while living in Los Angeles. Prior to his directorial debut, he studied acting at New York's Atlantic Theatre Company. Treading the boards gave him an appreciation of the importance of a strong story, which he notes as being "really revered in theatre, [but] it isn't always in Hollywood."
    Emily is a psychological thriller about the homecoming of the disturbed title character. Originally written as a drama, it evolved into a rain-drenched, Polanski-esque character study. The sparse set design and slow, lingering shots coupled with the powerful performances result in palpable tension -- not a film for the faint-hearted. The focus on character in 'Emily' might be a reflection of Matthews' background. The actors are the driving forces in the film -- an approach that results in the personal intensity.
     When asked by Paul Harris about the production's success, Matthews described his Oscar nod as a "huge thrill", citing his cinematographer Joshua Flavell and cast member Roxanne Wilson as being  integral creative contributors.
     This particular intern has a feeling Mr Matthews has an interesting future awaiting him, no matter what the outcome of the Student Oscars will be.

'Emily' will be screening at 1.30pm on Saturday 26th of May, The Astor Theatre as part of SKFF's ' Australia's Top 100 Short Films'