Proudly presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip, the internationally recognised short film festival attracted a record-breaking number of submissions and presented its biggest screening program when it celebrated its 40th anniversary in June this year.
The 2025 event will delight audiences across several Port Phillip venues from 5-15 June.
Festival Director and City of Port Phillip Film and Industry Lead Richard Sowada said he was expecting another crop of high quality, compelling entries.
“Our national call for entries is always such a thrilling time for us – it’s where the festival takes shape,” he said.
“We love seeing them, we love talking about them and we love the opportunity of being part of their lives. We also never forget it’s always about the filmmakers who stand behind them – and we can’t wait to meet them.”
Mayor Heather Cunsolo said Australia’s largest and longest-running short film festival was again offering a big prize pool of cash and in-kind craft awards, including a $10,000 prize for Best Short Film.
“This is also a great opportunity for talented young filmmakers aged under 21 to break into the industry by entering the youth short film category Under the Radar, presented by FReeZA” Cr Cunsolo said.
SKFF provides the most comprehensive overview of the national short film industry, screening the top 100 short film entries received each year alongside a rich program of international showcases, special events and Australia’s largest free filmmaker development program.
Accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, St Kilda Film Festival also offers successful filmmakers a pathway to winning an Academy Award. Award-winning SKFF films are eligible for consideration in the Short Film Awards and Documentary Short sections of the Oscars®.
Filmmakers whose earliest works found a home at the festival include Adam Elliot (Harvey Crumpet), Matt Saville (Noise), Kriv Stenders (Red Dog), Cate Shortland (Somersault), Jane Campion (The Piano, Bright Star), Richard Lowenstein (Dogs in Space) and 2022 Academy Award winner, cinematographer Greig Fraser (Dune).
