St Kilda Film Festival 2017 Winners Announced

SKFF Best Short Film, Welcome Home Allen - photo by Jim LeeThe winner of the 2017 Best Short Film at Australia’s longest running short film festival, St Kilda Film Festival, was announced to crowds at the Festival’s Closing Night on Saturday 27 May at the St Kilda Town Hall.

Welcome Home Allen, directed by Andrew Kavanagh, took home the prestigious award, walking away with a $10,000 cash prize and a qualification for consideration in the OSCARS Short Film category – a significant and unique opportunity for the Australian filmmaker.

The prize for Best Documentary was awarded to Peter Drew, director and producer of The Khalik Family Kite. Drew is now eligible for consideration in the OSCARS Documentary Shorts category. Other award highlights include Best Director to Mirene Igwabi for her work in Adele; and Best Actor to Sapphire Blossom for her role in Slapper. A complete list of winners is listed below.

City of Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss said the St Kilda Film Festival offers a platform that has showcased the incredible work of the Australian film industry over the past 34 years. “The St Kilda Film Festival has showcased many producers, directors and actors who have gone on to gain enormous recognition in the wider film industry,” said Cr Voss.

“It has been the starting point for some of Australia’s most successful filmmakers – going on to have their films screened at renowned international festivals, be nominated for critically acclaimed awards and become industry frontrunners. We are thrilled to have played a part in acknowledging the talent that Australian filmmakers showcase and be able to continue to do so year after year.”

The comprehensive 10-day program featured Australia’s Top 100 short films; a specially dedicated Graham Kennedy: The King of TV program in conjunction with the National Sound and Film Archive; SoundKILDA’s showcase of notable music videos; a retrospective line up of Indigenous short films, Short Black; the Under 21 Filmmaker Competition, Under the Radar; a free filmmaker development program; and a VIMEO showcase – an international program curated by Senior Curator Jeffrey Bowers highlighting the best of the video sharing platform.

Festival Director Paul Harris said the diversity and quality of this year’s submissions has been exciting and made it challenging to select films for the program, a true testament to those chosen. “The quality and variation of films shown at St Kilda Film Festival each year shows the changing film landscape and the demand for filmmakers to challenge themselves and push their creative boundaries,” said Mt Harris.

“This year, the quality and diversity of entries is a testament to the exciting talent coming through in Australia’s film industry. We congratulate the 2017 award winners on their well-deserved prizes and all entrants for their wonderful work.”

For the months of June and July, St Kilda Film Festival will tour highlights from the Top 100 films across regional Victoria. It allows people across the state to experience the diverse and enthralling films that were showcased at the festival from their own local theatres. Tour locations include Fish Creek, Yarroweyah, Castlemaine and Mallacoota. For more information, visit: www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au for details.

Image: Andrew Kavanagh, Ramona Telecican and Robert Fearon – winners of the Best Short Film: Welcome Home Allen – photo by Jim Lee


2017 St Kilda Film Festival Award Winners:

Best Short Film: Welcome Home Allen
Director: Andrew Kavanagh
Producer: Ramona Telecican
Screenplay: Andrew Kavanagh

Craft Award: After All
Director: Michael Cusack
Producer: Richard Chataway
Screenplay: Michael Cusack

Best Director:
Mirene Igwabi – Adele

Best Screenplay:
Alice Englert – The Boyfriend Game

Best Editing:
Drew Thompson ASE – The Eleven O’Clock

Best Cinematography:
Brad Francis – Found

Best Comedy: Homebodies
Director: Yianni Warnock
Producers: Charles Williams, Yianni Warnock
Screenplay: Yianni Warnock

Best Actor:
Sapphire Blossom – Slapper

Best Sound Post Production:
John Dennison – The Boyfriend Game

Best Visual Effects:
Michael Vorberg – Face

Best Youth Short Film: Nice Girls
Director: Maddelin McKenna
Producer: Sarah Pellegrino
Screenplay: Maddelin McKenna

Best Original Score:
Matteo Zingales – Fish With Legs

Best Documentary: The Khalik Family Kite
Director: Peter Drew
Producer: Peter Drew
Screenplay: Peter Drew

Best Indigenous Filmmaking: Brown Paper Bag
Director: Jon Staley
Producer: Kelly West
Screenplay: Boori Pryor, Jon Staley

Best Young Actor:
Princess Mariama Andrews – Adele

Staff Choice Award: Slapper
Director: Luci Schroder
Producers: Jason Byrne, Stephanie Westwood, Luci Schroder, Michael Latham

Audience Choice Award: Adrift
Director: Jon Mark Oldmeadow
Producers: Jon Mark Oldmeadow, Caitlin Farrugia
Screenplay: Jon Mark Oldmeadow