These are the best and brightest emerging filmmakers in the country. They have already won awards nationally and internationally. Now they all come together to vie for the title of 'Australias Best Short Film' - they’ll even receive a special plaque that can go straight to the pool room!

Dramas, Animations, Comedies, Documentaries - all together, in one amazing night of Australian Film, judged LIVE by some of the best established filmmakers in the country. 

The Australian Short Film Festival follows The Spot Festival and the induction of this year's Australian Film Walk of Fame personalities.

When

7pm (sharp) Sunday 11 March
(arrive 6.30pm)

Where 
Ritz Cinema
see map here

Tickets
$15 

Directed by 
Rupert Le Poer Trench
Produced by 
Rupert Le Poer Trench
Written by 
Rupert Le Poer Trench
Key Cast: Janneke Williamson, Sep Caton

The table is set for a romantic dinner. Kate has prepared something special but unfortunately Steve is stuck at the office. In today's ever changing world of phone technology can Kate and Steve keep the romance alive? Steve thinks he's found the perfect 'app' to keep them living in marital bliss.

Directed by 
Nash Edgerton
Produced by 
Lauren Edwards & John Polson
Written by 
Nash Edgerton & David Michod
Key Cast: Nash Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Warwick Thornton

Jack means well, but sometimes good intentions have horrible consequences.

Directed by 
Mike Hoath
Produced by 
Dan Wood
Written by 
Peter Templeman
Key Cast: Lindsay Farris, Luke Ledger, Michael Muntz

Beau and Jamie, two brothers from a rural West Australian town, are caught poaching a lamb from a neighbouring property. When Beau refuses to go quietly his younger brother becomes a pawn in a violent showdown.

Directed by 
Tanya Goldberg
Produced by 
Lisa Hoppe, Bobbie Waterman
Written by 
Lisa Hoppe, Bobbie Waterman
Key Cast: Robina Beard, Lester Morris, Alan Faulkner, John Keightly, Maggie Dence, Wendy Strehlow

It’s got it all―drugs, murder and a controversial bed scene...In this black comedy, 75 year olds Ray and Mary Horsborough decide to take fate into their own hands―but their double suicide pact doesn’t go according to plan!

Directed by 
Matthew Moore
Produced by 
Robert Jago, Matthew Moore
Written by 
Matthew Moore
Key Cast: Will Cottle, Morgana Davies, Joseph Famularo

Set in a year 4 classroom in 1981, Julian explores a day in the life of a 9 year old boy. Julian’s need to speak his truth and his strong urge to do what he thinks is right begins to unravel his world. Throughout the day Julian is forced to deal with a bully, an impatient teacher turning a blind eye and a principal with a secret. As Julian faces these challenges we begin to see the qualities that will inform the man he is to become.

Directed by 
Madeleine Parry
Produced by 
Daniel Joyce
Written by 
Madeleine Parry
Key Cast: Madeleine Parry

WARNING: There are graphic images of animal slaughter that may offend some viewers.

Madeleine loves her Greek family’s traditional lamb souvlaki but her friends claim that meat is murder. Well, Madeleine’s never killed anything bigger than a spider, so she decides to reconnect the animal and the meal or never eat meat again. After talking to the people who slaughter animals for their livelihood she is encouraged to do it herself, but even if she can kill an animal, will she still want to eat it afterwards?

Directed by 
Anthony Maras
Produced by 
Kate Croser, Andros Achilleos, Anthony Maras
Written by
Anthony Maras
Key Cast: Erol Afsin, Kevork Malikyan, Tamer Arslan, Daphne Alexander, Christopher Greco

Cyprus 1974. A Cypriot family flees advancing Turkish forces and takes refuge in an abandoned Ottoman-era palace. When a young Turkish Cypriot conscript comes face to face with the family in hiding, he is forced to confront the brutal reality of war and his role in it.

Directed by 
Damien Power
Produced by 
Joe Weatherstone
Written by 
Damien Power
Key Cast: Justine Clarke, Alan Dukes, Marli Bedwell, Marisa Bedwell
 
On the train home from the Easter Show, an over-tired little girl is hyped up by a stranger, who plays a game of peekaboo with her, until her mother begins to feel disturbed by the interest he’s showing.  A short time later, the girl disappears in a car park and her desperate mother fears her daughter has been abducted. A short thriller written and directed by Damien Power and produced by Joe Weatherstone.

Directed by 
Brendon McDonall
Produced by 
Brendon McDonall
Written by 
Brendon McDonall
Key Cast: Zac Ynfante, Daniel Bellinato, Molly Ellison, Ariana Ricci, Giaan Drennan, Alex Chorley, Stephen Morrissey


9-year-old Nedʼs best friend Jasper is getting married to Molly McMahon in the playground during lunch. The Cuthbert twins have organised a massive  secret ceremony with a playdough cake and the Grade 3 Recorder Group. But Ned is terrified of losing his best friend to married life and will stop at nothing to make sure the wedding is called off. 

Directed by 
Alister Lockhart (Director) Patrick Sarell (Co-Director)
Produced by
Katrina Mathers, Merrin Jensen, Patrick Sarell, Daryl Munton
Written by 
Patrick Sarell (Writer), Alister Lockhart (Co-Writer)
Key Cast: Cliff Ellen, Tristan Sarell

An animated road movie about a battle of wills over a cigarette. Brash young punk Bernie is desperate for a cigarette as he cruises across the vast and barren landscape of Australia’s Nullarbor Plain; the longest, straightest stretch of road in the world. When he encounters cantankerous old Waddy in his rusty old jalopy, a contemporary road-rage ‘tortoise and hare’ story ensues.

About the Australian Short Film Festival
Past festivals have included Academy Award winning and nominated films, as well as films that have won awards at major international festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Toronto. Comedies, dramas, animations and innovative filmmaking are chosen from over 200 entries, as  Australia’s best filmmakers pit their short film skills against each other for the title of ‘Australia’s Best Short Film’.

Past judges have included the elite of Australian filmmaking: Rachel Ward, Bruce Beresford, Jan Chapman, David Field, Andrew Trauki, Peter Castaldi, Darren Gilshenan, Jeremy Sims, Andrew Mercado, Roy Billing and Jack Finsterer.