The Victorian Coalition Government is pleased to support the St Kilda Film Festival in 2012. Just one year away from its 30th anniversary milestone the Festival is as vital as ever, and it continues to be an excellent celebration of short film and Australian filmmakers from around the world.

Each year the Festival offers filmmakers valuable exposure to a diverse audience, all within the creative and dynamic hub of St Kilda.

The 2012 program includes all the events that have made theFestival so loved and admired throughout the world, including the Top 100 Films competition, youth programs, and Industry Open Day.

I’m pleased to see that the Festival’s professional development program continues to grow each year, providing exceptional support and guidance for local practitioners on the craft of filmmaking. I wish all filmmakers in competition this year the very best of luck with their screenings. And I encourage all audiences – established practitioners, budding filmmakers, passionate film buffs and eager newcomers alike – to take advantage of the incredible diversity of talent and skill on display this year.

I would like to congratulate the City of Port Phillip and the St Kilda Film Festival staff and organisers on another exciting and innovative program. Your hard work, careful planning, passion and commitment are reflected in what will be another truly inspiring Festival.

The Hon Louise Asher MP

This is the 29th St Kilda Film Festival, making it the longest running short film festival in Australia.

The Film Festival started in 1984, after film programs were so successful at the St Kilda Festival it became an event in its own right, and has grown to be the six day extravaganza that we now know.

Supporting the Australian film industry and its practitioners, the Festival screens one hundred Australian films each year.

The City of Port Phillip is committed to a thriving arts and culture sector in the municipality.

We have a long history as a film hub and South Melbourne in particular still houses a large proportion of Melbourne’s film industry.

Encouraging and supporting the next generations of filmmaking talent, we proudly present two programs for and by youth filmmakers: Armed & Dangerous and Under the Radar.

We are very lucky to be able to present the Festival in two of St Kilda’s iconic venues: the Palais and Astor Theatres.

Thanks to Screen Australia and Film Victoria for their most valuable support and to all of our sponsors for 2012, we couldn’t do it without you.

Cr Rachel Powning
Mayor, City of Port Phillip

Recognised as Australia’s leading short film festival St Kilda takes pride in presenting a unique national competition of new and exciting work. Prepare to be exposed to films that are truly creative and on the cutting edge of innovation and technology.

Don’t forget to sample the numerous sidebar events including an exclusive program of visionary animation from Annecy, the world’s most prestigious animation festival, highlights from the Cork Film Festival and Corman At Ya - a 90-minute psychotronic salute a fascinating Roger Corman, the undisputed “King of the B’s”. 

To top it off we have lifted the bar even higher with a range of free events including the popular Industry Open Day - a marketplace of ideas and technology which is bigger and better than ever, with key representatives from private industry, government, funding agencies and film schools, plus a series of forums and Q and A’s covering the hot topics.

Melbourne’s beloved picture place The Astor boasts state-of-the-art sound and vision projected onto the largest screen in the Southern Hemisphere.

If Ferris Bueller was around for this he’d take the year off!!!

Paul Harris
Festival Director

All going according to plan, this Festival will look like a well-oiled machine come May 22nd – much like it was put together seamlessly.

  As much as that well-oiled machine is exactly what we hope for, it belies the sheer amount of blood, sweat and tears that goes into this Festival annually, from such a vast array of contributors.

  Festivals are only as good as those whose work it has the privilege to exhibit, program, screen or promote – a Festival can sometimes take the credit for the work of an entire industry.

  With this in mind the success of this Festival is down solely to the remarkable talent and ingenuity of the Australian film industry, and the hundreds – likely thousands – who have contributed to this year’s Top 100 Australian short films, the music videos, the youth programs, the forums and more.

  It is furthermore down to the audience, who can create the success by loving a film, recommending a film, thinking about or remembering a film, coming back to see more.

  It is also due to a hard working, dedicated and passionate team of Festival staff and volunteers who spend months in preparation (and are literally bursting at the seams to bring this year’s program to life). And in no small part to those that support and fund this event to make sure it continues to do what it does so well, year in and year out, and show films that very much deserve to be screened.

  In any case, if you’re at this Festival and you walk away thinking you enjoyed it, make sure the credit is given where credit is due – it means the local film industry is in inspiring shape and the future looks bright.

Adele Denison
Festival Producer