Braving cold driving winds with salt and sand in their hair, the crowd at the Bondi Pavilion on the opening night of Flickerfest (the 34th International Short Film Festival) were equally challenged indoors with a well curated range of shorts. The films were replete with plot twists and pirouettes, humour, heart rendering grief and pain. They came from Australia, France, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States and included world and Australian premieres.
The shortest and most recent film of the night Candy Bar brought back acclaimed Flickerfest alumni Nash Edgerton as director with actor Damon Herriman. Candy Bar is a well acted dark comedy which clearly appeals to film going audiences.
The night opened with The Fix-It-Man and The Fix-It-Woman a relaxed paced, delightful, funny animation featuring soft sculptures heading to “the bright lights, big city of Alice Springs”. The engaging artwork was done by Yarrenyty Arltere Artists.
Thanks for the Milk (France) involved a man’s cat and challenged the audience’s concept of reality and memory.
Me and Dad (Ireland) was one of the more heart rendering films of the night. The power of song when spoken words are not enough was strongly yet poignantly portrayed.
Dragfox (United Kingdom) An animation following a boy into his attic to magically discover and empower him in his identity journey. A good one for young audiences.
The Cockroach (United States) also showed the power of music and rhythm as it impacted personally and on family dynamics.
The Audition highlighted the challenges a young Kurdish singer trying to break into the music world faced. Again universality of aspects of the family relationships was appreciated by the audience.
Perhaps the most emotionally challenging film of the night was The Dog from writer/director Danielle Baynes. The film addressed the challenges of sickness, loss and grief faced by pets, pet-owners and the vets who are charged with curing and euthanatising them. Kate Walsh did justice to her role as the experienced vet.
The dance marathon competition film Loverdance (France). The fluctuations in energy yet building tension between numbers 42 and 33 in competition ensured that this was not a marathon for the audience. Appropriately it was the last film on the program reminding us that the films in Flickerfest are in competition but that competition can bring connection.
Flickerfest runs from 17 – 26 January at The Bondi Pavilion, showcasing over 200 short films from over 3,400 entries. Billed as Australia’s largest short film competition with Academy® and BAFTA qualifications, Flickerfest 2025 will feature global premieres, with 63 Australian films, 36 international films, and 15 documentaries across 24 dedicated festival programmes. Among the 130 films competing for prestigious awards are 37 world premieres, 46 Australian premieres, and 5 NSW premieres. Flickerfest also has an Australian tour.
The festival offers curated programmes such as FlickerUp (celebrating youth filmmaking), Rainbow Shorts (LGBTQI cinema), FlickerKids (family-friendly films), LoveBites (exploring relationships), Indigenous Spotlight (celebrating our country’s most creative Indigenous talent, both behind and in front of the camera) and Short Laughs (comedy shorts).
Highlights from Flickerfest coming up include:
‘Stranded, a comedic short film co-directed by Reilly Archer-Whelan and Michael Whyntie, will premiere at Flickerfest 2025. The film stars Michelle Brasier and Ben Russell.
When Kelly breaks up with Brian, his world falls apart—again. This time, it’s even more devastating, as it mirrors the traumatic experience of being stranded on a deserted island after their cruise ship sank, leaving them as the only two survivors. A bold and engaging film.
Vlog, a deeply personal family drama written, directed by, and starring Emmy-nominated Australian actress Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale). In her directorial debut, Yvonne explores the chaotic reality of motherhood and social media pressures, offering a candid portrayal of working women.
Belinda Bromilow, known for her work in Doctor Doctor and The Great, makes her directorial debut with the quirky and humorous Glove, which follows an adventurous young woman in search of love.
In the international competition, audiences can look forward to the Australian premieres of Hearts of Stone, starring Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and the poetic animation The Brown Dog, voiced by the late Michael K. Williams (The Wire) and featuring Steve Buscemi. These films highlight the incredible breadth of talent on display at this year’s Flickerfest.
To celebrate Judith Kerr’s 100th birthday, her beloved children’s book Mog’s Christmas is brought to life in a beautifully hand-drawn animated special, directed by Robin Shaw and created by the team behind The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Produced by Lupus Films, Channel 4, and Universal Pictures Content Group.
Set in the legendary Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle, Rhubarb Rhubarb is an intimate portrait of Jo and her elderly father, who harvest the region’s famous pink rhubarb. The film captures their ancestral tradition, while introducing the looming danger of the changing world around them. Featuring BAFTA-winning actress Joanna Scanlan.’
With many daytime and evening sessions, Flickerfest 2025 is highly recommended.
2025 PROGRAMME: https://flickerfest.com.au/programme-2025/
TICKET INFO: https://flickerfest.com.au/ticket-info/
