Flickerfest, Australia’s leading short film festival, kicked off under the stars of Bondi Beach on Friday night to the relief of organisers having to navigate the restrictions and challenges of a global pandemic over the past year.
The festival, which began in 1991 and is celebrating its 30th year, has provided a much-needed outlet for local filmmakers and actors over the years, showcasing a depth of talent that has produced the likes of Warwick Thornton, David Michod and Nash Edgerton, all of whom sent congratulatory messages prior to Friday’s screenings.
The Flickerfest organising committee ploughed their way through over 1000 entries this year before selecting 120 films in competition and another 90 for screening in what is Australia’s only Academy and BAFTA recognised short film festival.
Friday night’s opening featured seven entertaining and at times challenging films, four from Australia and one each from the USA, New Zealand and Norway. There was ‘Roborovski’, a 15-minute Australian animation about a neglected tiny hamster stuck in a pet shop cage while being continuously passed over for larger and apparently more exciting critters. Despite the soothing words of the pet shop owner, our hamster’s demeanour takes a decided downward turn when neglect turns to anger and resentment, with some interesting consequences and a surprise ending, enhanced by some fine animation along the way.
‘David’, an American entry starring Will Ferrell, tells the tale of a psychiatrist treating a man with severe depression following diagnosis of an illness, when his wrestling-mad son barges into the situation and creates utter chaos. This film certainly packed a lot into its 12 minutes, telling a funny, moving story that captured humour and grief in almost equal measure with a lot in between, and I’m not a Will Ferrell fan.
The night also featured powerful Australian content such as ‘Furlough’, a 17-minute entry directed by Australian actress Phoebe Tonkin, which tells the tale of teenage sisters embarking on an adventure while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable, and ‘The Moogai’, a psychological horror story about a young mother terrorised by a malevolent spirit that she has come to believe is after her children.
Flickerfest runs until January 31 featuring programs of the best of International and the best of Australian short films, at the North Beach Park on Bondi Beach before embarking on its usual regional tour of New South Wales. For those unable to make it to the screenings, SBS plans to screen the entries later in the year.
Featured image : Natalia Ferrari and Sammy Allsop at the Flickerfest opening night