The St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) has crowned the winners of its 2026 Top Shorts competition, with Writers in Love taking out Best Short Film and While We Still Have Time named Best Documentary, both earning Academy Awards® accreditation.
This year, St Kilda Film Festival received a record-breaking 960 submissions from across Australia. The 15 award categories were presented at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony at St Kilda Town Hall on Sunday 14 June, hosted by Brian Nankervis.
The Top Shorts competition celebrates outstanding achievement across directing, screenwriting, cinematography, documentary, animation, acting and more, with prizes valued at over $40,000, including a $10,000 prize for Best Short Film. Winners were determined by a jury of festival alumni and screen industry experts.
St Kilda Film Festival 2026 Award Winners:
Best Original Score:
Winner: Kenneth King – Fracture
Best Achievement in Sound Post-production:
Winner: Noah Kiely, Gus Threlfall, Keith Thomas – Headphones
Best Achievement in Editing:
Winner: Phoebe Taylor – The Shirt Off Your Back
Best Achievement in Screenplay:
Winner: Annelise Hickey – Stranger, Brother
Best Achievement in Indigenous Filmmaking:
Winner: Bringing His Spirit Home
Best Achievement in Cinematography:
Winner: Jaclyn Paterson – The Shirt Off Your Back
Best Young Actor:
Winner: Conor Weir and Tobias Cichero (VANDALS)
Best Actor:
Winner: Nat Damena (Question 57)
Best Animation:
Winner: The Fling
Best Documentary:
Winner: While We Still Have Time
Best Director:
Winner: Celeste Diep (Interview With A Hero)
Innovation Award:
Winner: INFINIT3
Best Achievement in Production Design:
Winner: Imogen Walsh (Headphones)
Best Youth Short Film:
Winner: Emile Burford (Manca)
Best Short Film:
Winner: Writers In Love
In 2026, St Kilda Film Festival returned for its 42nd edition, presenting 190+ short films across 10 days and 5 venues, from the Palais Theatre to St Kilda Town Hall. Australia’s longest-running short film festival, SKFF continues to champion the short film format and the filmmakers who define it.
For more information about the St Kilda Film Festival and award recipients, visit: www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au for details.
Image: Writers in Love (film still)