The festival is now in its seventh year and organisers are looking forward to premiering the 12 finalists at Benalla Town Hall on Saturday, December 4.
The event is being used as a thank-you to all the front-line workers who kept the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The finalists have been chosen from an array of entries and represent some of the best up-and-coming film makers in the region, and further afield.
Festival organisers are pleased to welcome back the judges from last year:
- Tony Bonner AM (Skippy the Bush Kangaroo);
- John Orcsik (Cop Shop); and
- Krista Vendy (Neighbours).
Festival president Anna Smith said Benalla Shorts was pleased to welcome a live audience after holding last year’s event online due to COVID-19 regulations.
“We have made this year’s festival an occasion to host an invitation-only event to thank our local heroes who have held the front-line for us all,” Ms Smith said.
“Invitations have been extended to front-line workers in health, emergency, and front-of-house staff in the vital retail sector.”
Ms Smith said there would also be an opportunity for the wider community to see the films.
“Swanpool Cinema will screen a public viewing on Saturday, February 19,” she said.
Keep an eye out in the pages of the Ensign and at www.benallensign.com.au for news on how to get a ticket for that.
The total prize pool for the event is $2250 which will be shared among winners in categories which include the Judges’ Award; Local Encouragement Award; People’s Choice Award; Student Award; and Best Documentary.
Three local film makers made the cut this year, with Benalla’s Charlie Williams entering his film The Devil and I; Cobram’s Lachie Allemand with his entry The Sisterhood of Mika and Sophie; and Shepparton’s Matthew Poidevin entering his film Forever House.
Mr Williams said it felt amazing to take out two categories last year and he was looking forward to seeing all the entries in this year’s festival.
“Me and my wife Rhiannon worked on this one together,” Mr Williams said.
“She’s been acting for more than 10 years and has a lot of friends who we worked with on this project.
“We actually collaborated with some pretty impressive people.
“We wrote the script together and you could say it was a real team effort.”
Mr Williams said the film had also been selected to be screened as part of Monster Fest.
Monster Fest is a celebration of all that is weird and wonderful in the international cult cinema palette — including horror, science fiction, fantasy, dark drama, black comedy, animation, and much more.
"This is the big festival for that genre of film and there are big prizes to be won there,“ Mr Williams said.
“So that is very exciting.”
The Benalla Shorts committee thanked all of its sponsors and supporters. They include Film Victoria, Benalla Rural City Council, Tricia Vale and Associates, the Australian Film and Television Academy, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, De Fazio concrete and paving, Bendigo Bank and the Gliding Club of Victoria.
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