Thinking Local Doesn't Mean Thinking Small

The Sydney Road Brunswick Association, a collection of local business owners, aims to develop Sydney Road as a cultural centre in Melbourne. Claire Perry has been with the SRBA for over a decade — "It has been a long time but Sydney Road is a pretty awesome place" — in a position that includes working on their many events, not least, the Short Film Competition, which offers several prizes up to and including $3000.

It started as a way to draw people to the area and into venues during winter: "But it provides an opportunity for our community to give back to the [arts] community that supports Sydney Road," Perry says. "I think it's a great support for young filmmakers, whether they be local or Melbourne or whatever," says Perry. "It gives them the opportunity to do something, the opportunity to submit a film and to think about the kind of the genre they might like to do it in.

"We've had a whole variety of films over the years; animated, documentary, comedy," says Perry. "I guess it always stuns me about the take that people have on the particular criteria... What people come up with is just, unbelievable."

The diverse nature of the entrees mixed with the relaxed atmosphere makes "fun nights, and fun films", with screenings this year at Penny Black and Bar Estrella, with finals at Wilson Ave Park — their first outdoor film event. Another new feature is the music video category, a pertinent choice. "It fits in with the Sydney venues and things, and the live music that we have here," agrees Perry, and "the venues here that support live music, and local live music."