What Makes A Great Short Film

“I think our process is based upon exceptionally creative and inspirational short film making.” says Kidd. “We're certainly a platform for discovering the next generation of talent, and really celebrating independent creativity in cinema. This is something we've championed for 25 years.”

For 19 years Kidd has been the director of Flickerfest. Her love of short films has also seen her serve on various international festival juries, and a member of the International Short Film Conference. For her, short films offer a unique opportunity. “Short film are... short. You have to connect with a character in a brief period of time. We see a lot of new voices. They are telling me a story out of a burning desire to tell that story, rather than a desire to make box office returns.”

It is this that Kidd looks for in a Flickerfest film. “I'm looking for unique stories. I'm looking for unique perspective. For a fresh voice coming through. For real talent. Also stories that move me. They can confront me, or they can be funny. It's that range I'm looking for; from comedies, to drama, to human rights themes, to cultural themes.”

Over four nights at The Camelot, Perth will see an Australian program, a comedy program, and two nights of International fare. So recommendations were in order.

“For the Australian program we have Karroyull, a WA piece by Kelrick Martin. It's a beautiful cultural piece. People have really loved the time machine lay-z-boy recliner in Lazy Boy. We also have the wickedly humorous Adam Elliot's (Harvey Crumpet) new animated short film, Ernie Biscuit.”

“Within the international program there is Balcony. This film won our award for Best Short at Flickerfest this year. It is a really moving and insightful piece looking at cultural diversity in East London. Then there is Stutterer, a gorgeous film about a typographer looking for love. It has been nominated for an Academy Award.

“In comedy we have Slingshot, which won the Best Of Australian award, and is hilarious. There is also Nulla Nulla, an indigenous comedy offering starring Wayne Blair (director of The Sapphires)."

Originally published in X-Press Magazine