Australia’s longest-running short film festival, St Kilda Film Festival, has revealed the 2023 award nominees that are in the running for more than $25,000 worth of cash and prizes.
The St Kilda Film Festival’s Top Short Films are judged by a panel of industry professionals, with the 2023 judging panel made up of Cinematographer Ellery Ryan (Wishful Thinking starring Drew Barrymore); Producer Julie Ryan (Hotel Mumbai and Red Dog); and Filmmaker Rhianna Malezer (Thor: Ragnarok and Elvis).
The winners of this year’s Best Short Film and Best Documentary will also be eligible for consideration in the OSCARS® Short Film and OSCARS® Documentary Shorts Award categories.
The 2023 St Kilda Film Festival’s most prestigious title of Best Short Film will see one of five nominees take home a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of City of Port Phillip. This year’s nominees for Best Short Film are Perspectives, By Lucas Wilson, Mud Crab, MYTH and Incarnation.
The Craft Award winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize recognising excellence in filmmaking. Sponsored by VicScreen, the nominees for the Craft Award are Dies Irae, SUGA RUSH, TREES and Famished Shell.
“Looking at all the wonderful films that we received and programmed this year, the Sophie’s Choice of the judging process is both excruciating and invigorating – they’re all performing at the top level,” says Festival Director Richard Sowada.
“The fact that we can provide a potential pathway to the Oscars through our awards is a bonus for us, and we all feel personally connected to each and every one along with the filmmakers behind them. What a year!”
St Kilda Film Festival Award Nominees:
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
• Zhao Shen – Famished Shell
• Jason Kumwar – Marionettes
• James Mountain – Mud Crab
• Rainbow Chan – Butter: A Love Story
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND POST-PRODUCTION
• John Kassab – Breathe
• Jared Plant, Yee Lee + Bernard Winter – Incarnation
• Nathan Turnball – Mud Crab
• Folklore Sound – OUR HAUNT
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
• James Taylor – Mud Crab
• Geoff Hitchins – Svengali
• Cal McLean – Hash Browns
• Tania Nehme – MYTH
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY
• Grace Tan – Lucky Peach
• Neer Shelter – Perspectives
• Elizabeth Packett – Tarneit
• James Robert Woods – Svengali
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN INDIGENOUS FILMMAKING
• Galup VR Experience
• Bangay Lore
• The Lost Crystal’s in Jessica’s Room
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
• Jaclyn Paterson – Mud Crab
• Valentino Filimon – SUGA RUSH
• Tania Lambert – MYTH
• Bernard Winter – Incarnation
BEST YOUNG ACTOR
• Ella Harrold – The Lost Crystal’s in Jessica’s Room
• Sheldon Pickett – The Lost Crystal’s in Jessica’s Room
• Calvin Black – Tarneit
• Antanhe Zewdu – Tarneit
• Federico Gazzilli – By Lucas Wilson
• Lena Nankivell – MYTH
BEST ACTOR
• Joshua Mehmet – Mud Crab
• Jack Riley – Incarnation
• Ben Gerrard – Svengali
• Gael Ballantyne – Good Times and That’s Okay
BEST ANIMATION
• Teacups
• Dies Irae
• The Only Photograph of Emily Dickinson, American Poet
• Blockhead and Sparkles and the Flood of Tears
BEST DOCUMENTARY
• Fearless: Jazmin Theodora
• Memorabilia
• Declutter
• Galup VR Experience
BEST DIRECTOR
• David Robinson-Smith – Mud Crab
• Neer Shelter – Perspectives
• Bernard Winter – Incarnation
• Alies Sluiter – MYTH
CRAFT AWARD
• Dies Irae
• SUGA RUSH
• TREES
• Famished Shell
BEST SHORT FILM AWARD
• Perspectives
• By Lucas Wilson
• Mud Crab
• MYTH
• Incarnation
This year’s winners will be announced at the St Kilda Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony on Sunday 11 June (8.00pm) at The Astor Theatre. There will be a special screening of all the Award Winners’ films on Monday 12 June (3.00pm) at The Alex Theatre.
Now in its 39th year, St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) continues to Monday 12 June 2023. 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. For more information visit: www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au for details.
Image: SUGA RUSH (supplied)