Every year, Flickerfest gets bigger and better.
In their 31st year this year, the short film festival has reached a record number of applicants - 3,200 - narrowed down to around 200. “We’re making sure we’ll be showcasing films that are incredibly strong, diverse, fresh, and a strong representation of the next generation of filmmakers,” Festival Director Bronwyn Kidd says.
With world and Australian premieres, the 2022 programme features unique stories with an incredible amount of passion. “It’s a different perspective on the world,” says Bronwyn. “We’re looking for diverse voices telling diverse stories, making us look at the world in a different way. Revealing fresh insights – and entertaining, that’s also key.”
“I think I really wanted to give people a journey. We’ve been cut off from the world for the last two years so across the international programmes, it’s a real opportunity to engage with global stories, incredibly high quality films.
“Similarly, in the Australian programmes, it’s really beautiful, heartwarming, engaging, insightful stories. Uplifting, stories of hope, I think that’s really important at the moment.”
'All The Crows In The World'
Flickerfest also has a series of mini programmes this year – Short Laughs, Best Of Indigenous, among others – with some stand-out entries. “Best Of Indigenous is a spotlight of the Indigenous films that are screening across the festival,” Bronwyn explains. “They’re in the Australian competition, seven films from Indigenous filmmakers in leading creative roles. That’s really exciting to celebrate.
“Of course, having those films in the one programme on Survival Day and really honouring the resilient and incredible cultural significance that these stories and our First Nations people have to this country, that’s always really important to me to have that programme for people to see those films.”
After 31 years, Bronwyn is certain Flickerfest has had the opportunity to influence many filmmakers. “That’s been fantastic,” she says, “and there are returning filmmakers we’ve had in the past.
“And of course, we also have FlickerUp, our national competition for filmmakers 18 years and under. All up, 29 competitions, a real range, so people get to see incredible diversity.
'First Work, Then Play'
“People coming to Flickerfest should know there’s been so much incredible thought gone into every film, and the placement of every film. The journey you’ll go on is a big part of our vision and focus, to give people these wonderful experiences with short films and take them on a journey across a range of themes and into that real depth of human experience.”
Bronwyn has a slew of entries that stand out for her. “'All The Crows In The World’ is a different perspective on life in Hong Kong; a young woman explores culture and cultural taboo and shines a very modern spotlight on a young person in Hong Kong.
“I love ‘Close Ties To Home Country’. The actress who made this film is such a talent, such a unique voice. That film really stood out for me, as did Timothee the pug! It’s pretty hilarious, it’s got a beautiful soulfulness to it.
“Another crazy favourite of mine is a film called ‘First Work, Then Play’, an entry from Germany. It’s all about that idea of creative burnout, struggling to find creative juice. The whole story is hilarious and so relatable.”
Flickerfest takes place at Bondi Beach 21-30 January.
