The SmartFone Flick Fest – Australia’s hit international film festival – is back with record numbers for its sixth year. And it’s all set to happen online and in-cinema from 9 October!
Not only is it the first year SF3 is going online, but it’s also one of the few film festivals around the world to also host in-cinema screenings, made possible by Sydney’s current moderate level of restrictions.
With more than 2000 international entries since its debut in 2015, this year’s bumper crop of 300+ included films from as far afield as Congo, El Salvador, Bulgaria and China.
Now, with the pandemic front and centre in so many minds, SF3 is sharing 44 Isolation / Lockdown stories in its new zeitgeist-nailing ISO category. Each are 3 minutes or less and shot within local lockdown laws. All will be available online and the best will be screened as part of a day long feast of film – most of which showcase a wealth of Australian talent – on October 10 at Event Cinemas, George Street Sydney.
“The ISO category is a fascinating snapshot and time capsule of these significant and challenging times,” says festival co-founder and co- director Alison Crew. “We can’t wait to share this year’s cream of the crop of smartphone films from around the world!”
For the first time, the full SF3 2020 program will be streamed online, to reach an even bigger, truly global audience. Alison’s co-founder and co-director Angela Blake added “With so many parts of the world still experiencing various levels of restrictions and lockdowns and many festival goers unable to attend our cinema screenings in person, we wanted to ensure our festival is accessible to everyone.”
All SF3 films must be shot and edited on phones or tablets and SF3 ISO joins the regular Official Selection short films, SF3 Kids, SF3 feature films and SF360/VR (Virtual Reality) sections.
This year’s SF3 Ambassadors and judges include such film industry icons as award-winning actors Kerry Armstrong, Christopher Stollery and Nicole da Silva; Hollywood director Phillip Noyce and Kriv Stenders of ‘Red Dog ’and ‘Danger Close ’fame.
Kerry Armstrong said she loved that all you need is a smartphone. “There’s no budget constraints, there’s a great deal of freedom and inventiveness; I really look forward to seeing all the wonderful ideas!”
Award winning smartphone filmmaker, Jason van Genderen of Treehouse Creative (@WeAreTreehouse – creator of the short ‘grandma shopping at home’ film that went viral around the world!) returns to the festival as a judge this year. Involved from SF3’s inception, Jason will also lead a masterclass as part of the full day in-cinema screening and awards program on Sat 10 October at Event Cinemas.
SF3 opens with an online chat on Friday October 9 from 7.30pm – featuring festival ambassadors Kerry, Kriv, Christopher and Nicole. Then, the next day, it’s all live on the big screen at Event Cinemas from morning til night: 10am SF3 Kids (15) 12noon Masterclass with Jason van Genderen 2pm SF3 Feature film “Threshold” and SF3 ISO short films (12) 5pm SF3 Festival Finalists Selection & Gala Awards (16) Sunday 18 October: Phillip Noyce hosts an online film direction masterclass!
Featured image : Distant Friends