Sydney Fringe Film Festival

Name and role: Bernie Burke – curator and producer

Plug your show! Why can't we miss it?
It's a huge, exciting showcase of local and national filmmakers' work. There is comedy, drama, documentary, queer mockumentary… just about everything quirky, twisted and poignant that could come out of Sydney's inner-West. There are also some amazing short films from the Aboriginal community of Balgo. The artists work through the Warlayirti Aboriginal Art Centre, which is one of our country's most esteemed galleries for painting. They're one of the first Aboriginal art centres to explore digital media, and these films make it clear they're doing a damn fine job of it.

Where did the idea for this event come from?
It was really just because I had a lot of friends who had made great short films. I wanted to give them a platform. But once I started organising the festival, I got a lot more submissions through word of mouth – the product is this awesome national flavour!

What have the past few months or so been like in the lead-up to Fringe?
Really busy. I've learnt so much about what it takes to organise a film festival. It's been a lot of work but also a lot of fun.

What inspires you artistically?
Passion! I think that is one word that sums it all up. It doesn't matter what a person does, if they're passionate about it, they can turn it into something incredible. I don't just believe that, I've seen it in action!

What other shows are you looking forward to at this year's Fringe?
Russian Rock Burlesque for one. I love how burlesque can be interpreted in so many different ways; it's never 'samey'. Burlesque artists really blow me away.

What excites you about being involved in the Sydney Fringe 2012?
The fact that Sydney comes alive with excitement. I noticed the same thing when Sydney Festival was on earlier this year; there's something about this kind of event that helps people loosen up more, have a good time – and it feels like real community for a while. I love it.

WHEN & WHERE: Thursday 13 September to Thursday 27, Dendy Newtown Cinemas