This year celebrates the 24th annual Flickerfest short film festival.
Receiving a record number of entries into the competition, amassing over 2,400 short films from around the globe, Flickerfest director for the past 14 years, Bronwyn Kidd, has described Flickerfest as “the most significant, dedicated short film event in the Australian landscape.”
Owing this well-earned reputation to encouraging entries from all genres of film, Flickerfest stands apart from other Australian short film festivals because in 2003 The Academy Of Motion Picture, Arts And Science (re-branded as The Oscars in 2013), elected to recognise Flickerfest as a qualifying festival for the 'Best Short Film' and 'Best Animation' categories of The Academy Awards. In addition, 2010 saw Flickerfest recognised by The British Academy Of Film And Television Arts (BAFTA), meaning that short film entrants from the UK who won at Flickerfest would be eligible for a BAFTA award nomination. And in 2013 Flickerfest's Australian competition received official Academy accreditation, with the Documentary competition following in 2014.
'Florence Has Left The Building' - Best Of Australian Shorts
'Oh Lucy' - Best Of International 1Touring with this years festival is Australian short film 'A New You', written and directed by Brisbane local Dane Hansen and starring Kevin Spink ('Photo Booth', 'Die Violin'), Thomas Larkin ('Sex With Strangers', 'Macbeth'), John Vizcay-Wilson ('Evidence', 'Uncanny Vally') and Ellie Popov ('Thicker Than Water', 'Fractured!'). Produced by Rhiannon Steffensen, 'A New You' is her third year graduation film as part of Griffith University's Film School and will play on the opening night of Best Australian Shorts at Flickerfest.
'Skin' - Best Of International 2The 14-minute short has earned the privilege of touring throughout 50 venues, showcasing just over 100 entries selected from this years record 2,400 international competition entrants. Kevin Spink is excited that the tour stops in the cast's hometown of Brisbane, with the festival finalists screening at the Judith Wright Centre Of Contemporary Arts. When questioned whether Flickerfest will be well received in the regional towns he offers a confident response: “people in small communities love stories too. There is no concern that short films will not be any less accepted than in larger cities."
Kevin SpinkOn discussing the eclectic variety of entries, Kevin says excitedly that "it's fantastic, with open slather for the writers and directors." He explains somewhat proudly that “short films are a stand alone medium now. People love short films now because everyone is so busy.”
Kevin Spink has developed a noteworthy biography of acting roles in both theatre and film in his 12-year-career. He explains the difference between theatre and film as though “one is playing tennis, one is playing cricket,” suggesting he enjoys the different facets of both equally. He has also added voice acting to his repertoire which came about through a course he studied with a radio DJ friend in Brisbane. Kevin conveys his experience as a voice actor, in his smooth, baritone accent as "running a 100m sprint naked... very uncomfortable with a lot of people watching." His distinctive voice is heard numerous times throughout they day on Brisbane television and radio, undoubtedly one would be unaware just how many times his voice is on the airwaves. Kevin has also lent his voice to a number of computer game prototypes."I would also like to do animation or kids movies which would be a lot of fun." he tells with a nearly childish giggle.
{youtube}IGWeZaEnMqk{/youtube}
Growing up in Army camps, referring to experiences in Germany, as well as some time in England and Hong Kong, Kevin now speaks with “a mongrel accent”, which would be more accurately, and politely, referred to as a British accent. His early childhood was spent playing war-games with other kids. Being an Army-brat meant there was very little consistency with maintaining friendships and getting a normal education. "The mundane reality of growing up in the camps lead to a mostly fantasy, make-believe life", which primed Kevin's imagination for a diverse career in acting.
'A New You' encapsulates and characterises a typical night out as seen from the wingman's perspective. “Its about choices", Kevin explains after careful consideration. His character, Jay Foreman, "is a jaded man who prefers to play the over-confident wingman rather than be in a position of vulnerability, he has had his heart broken... he doesn't care, he's not looking for love... With heartbreak there is a new you."
Tom Christiansen (John Vizcay- Wilson) is an exceptionally hopeless case of young man looking for love. The object of Tom's attention is Olivia Moon (Ellie Popov), and it is with her that Jay attempts to use his enigmatic self-confidence and superlative wingman skills to lay the groundwork for his socially maladroit comrade. What begins as a conversation between Jay and Olivia, turns to a forbidden mental attraction between wingman and subject when they discover a common interest in fine literature. They end up subtly flirting which culminates in Olivia overtly pointing out that Jay is passing up an opportunity.
They unobtrusively fall for each other but Jay executes his wingman role admirably and flawlessly by stepping-down so Tom can attempt to articulate his usual awkward conversation reserved for members of the opposite sex.
On the question of similarities between the actor and the his character, Kevin states a resounding "no!" after a long laugh. He considers the question further before offering, “I would say there are similarities but I'm certainly not as cocksure... maybe I am maybe underneath we're both vulnerable, we mask our insecurities with bravado.”
Kevin's opinion on whether this film is an award winner is that he is unsure “because it's so subjective... the beautiful thing about this film is that it does come full-circle, it's one of the films that when you see it you just want it to go on a little bit longer.”
'A New You' tours nationally as part of Flickerfest. Win tickets to the opening night of Flickerfest at the Judith Wright Centre in Brisbane, 26 February.
