The Shorts Film Festival has hit new heights with the release of this year’s program, which includes a record number of films from Australia and overseas.
The festival, which has found a new home at the Norwood Concert Hall, will run for a week (April 9 – 16) and screen 70 short films from Australia and overseas. Shorts received over 200 entries for the festival.
This year, the festival will also launch new filmmaker awards for films from other Asia Pacific countries and a Black Shorts Award for indigenous filmmakers.
Shorts offers one of the largest prize pools of any film festival in Australia, with prizes valued at over $50,000. The awards are presented on the last night of the festival and include an all expenses paid trip to the Cannes Film Festival for the winner.
Film and festival director, Eddie White said Shorts continues to grow to attract bigger audiences and provide more filmmakers with the opportunity to show their work.
“Our initial aim when we established the festival in 2003 was to give Adelaide its own only national dedicated short film festival. Its reach now extends throughout Asia Pacific and into Europe through our partnership with the UK’s prestigious Rushes SOHO Shorts Festival.
“We continue to get strong support from South Australian filmmakers and this year a record 14 local films will be screened.
“If successful, these films will go from being shown in Norwood to being showcased to an audience of leading European directors and producers in London’s West End.”
Films shown at this year’s festival include dramas, comedies, animations, documentaries, horrors and thrillers.
The films to be screened at the festival have been chosen from over 200 entries and decided upon by judges from the Australian film, entertainment and media industries.
Judging sessions were held in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
In contrast to other film festivals, the films at Shorts are shown in a ‘club-like’ social environment where audiences can also enjoy good food, have a drink and discuss the films with their friends, family and the filmmakers themselves.
“Norwood’s strong arts and community culture makes it the perfect place for the Shorts Film Festival, said Eddie.
“Our new home will enable us to continue to grow audiences and show films in a relaxed, social and ‘non-cinematic’ environment.”
In addition to the support provided by the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, the festival also welcomes the NAB, Redbank Wines, Finlaysons and Beach Energy as major sponsors of this year’s festival.
The 2011 Shorts Film Festival will be held at the Norwood Concert Hall, Norwood from April 9 to 16. Tickets are priced from $12 through to $25.
For more information, visit the Shorts Film Festival website at www.shortsfilmfestival.com