Flickerfest

What began as a small local festival in Balmain High School, Flickerfest is now in its 21st year and has been recognised as a qualifying festival for the Best Short Film and Best Animation categories of the Academy Awards since 2003.

On its Opening Night last night at Bondi Pavilion, Bronwyn Kidd, the festival director announced that Flickerfest is now also recognised by BAFTA, and there were over 2200 entries from around the globe this year, of which over 100 will be officially screened.

My favourites from the Opening Night Highlights are The Absent-minded Waiter (1976), Fish & Chips (2011) and Bear (2011). It may look like I'm biased because two out of the three were Australian short films, but both had such cleverly written scripts and certainly got plenty of laughs from the audience.  

From the programme:

THE ABSENT-MINDED WAITER

USA/7 min/Video/1976

DIR: Carl Gottlieb

STARRING: Steve Martin, Buck Henry & Terri Garr

Bernie Cates requests the services of the most absent-minded waiter he's ever seen, who pours water before setting the glasses, endlessly repeats questions, brings wrong orders, and ruins everything- but the bill.

FISH & CHIPS

Australia/15 min/Video/2011

WRI/DIR: Anna Broinowski

PROD: Steve Kearney & Leanne Tonkes

When 10 year old Pauline Hanson goes on Chef of the Universe to cook against culinary geniuses Barry, Kim and Vlad, she breaks the rules – and turns the whole world upside down.

World Premiere

BEAR

Australia/11 min/35MM/2011

WRI: Nash Edgerton & David Michôd

DIR: Nash Edgerton

PROD: Lauren Edwards & John Polson

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

So if you are heading down to Bondi this summer, make sure you drop by Bondi Pavilion and check out the 20 different short film programmes which will be screened during the ten-day festival season.

For those who cannot make it to Bondi, don't fret because the festival may be coming to a place near you, all you have to do is check out its national tour dates.

Bondi Pavilion: Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026