A dramatic week for SHORTS

Australia’s love of home grown drama is reflected in the program for this year’s SHORTS Film Festival (April 28 – May 5) with a third of the 60 films to be screened dedicated to the drama genre.
 
The drama’s storylines and settings though are diverse with tales of an over the hill boxer, a conflict at a suburban skate park and a man struggling with life in the outback among the films being shown over the week-long festival.
 
Other genres featuring strongly at SHORTS are comedies, animations, documentaries, science fictions and thrillers.
 
The Festival will be held for the second year at the Norwood Concert Hall thanks to the support of the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peter’s.
 
SHORTS Film Festival Director David Ngo says this year’s program has the makings of one of the biggest and best festivals in its 9 year history.
 
“It is going to be a great week. We have films screening from all over Australia and a few from overseas and they’re all of a very high quality. I expect it is going to be our best festival yet,” said David.
 
“The social atmosphere for which the festival has become popular will continue with the opportunity for people to eat, drink and talk about the films with not only each other, but with many of filmmakers themselves.”
 
This year, the SHORTS Film Festival received more than 200 entries from across Australia and the Asia Pacific.
 
The top 60, to be screened during the festival, were decided through a series of judging sessions held in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Judges included film producers, directors, actors and media.
 
The SHORTS Film Festival will also continue its artistic tradition, started by its patron David Bromley, of showcasing the talents of a South Australian painter.
 
Datsun Tran has taken on the role of Artist in Residence at this year’s Festival and has created a piece entitled “Witness” to help raise funds to support the running of the event.
 
“I’ve had an interest in film as far back as I can remember, so I was really excited about the opportunity to create a piece for the 2012 Shorts Film Festival, “said Datsun.
 
“My painting gives you a peek into the world of the filmmaker.”
 
Datsun’s painting can be viewed in the offices of the major sponsors of the festival before being taken to Norwood Concert Hall for festival week.
 
For filmmakers, the SHORTS Film Festival still boasts one of the largest prize pools in Australia worth over $50,000.The winner receives an all expenses paid trip to prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Sundance or Annecy.
 
The Black SHORTS Award will also make a return this year. Sponsored by Beach Energy, this award encourages more indigenous films to be made, with the winner receiving $10,000 to help develop their filmmaking career.
 
This year, SHORTS in conjunction with the Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council, will also help to encourage the next generation of filmmakers through a series of master classes to be held as part of National Youth Week (April 13-22).
 
The master classes will be run by four film industry leaders on the topics of Getting Started, Sound Production, Editing and Producing and How to write Festival Friendly Short Films. Further information on the master classes is available from the SHORTS Film Festival website.
 
In addition to the support provided by the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, the festival welcomes Flinders University as Principal sponsor along with major sponsors Finlaysons Lawyers and Beach Energy.
 
Tickets go on sale today (April 3) and are available from the SHORTS Film Festival website. Prices range from $12 to $30.
 
For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.shortsfilmfestival.com.
 
MEDIA CONTACTS:
 
Please contact Simon Hatcher or Katrina Tambasco from Hughes PR on 8412 4100.