1. The Palais Theatre illuminated in pink lighting for the St Kilda Film Festival.
    Photograph: J Forsyth
  2. A still from the short film 'Unspoken'.
    Photograph: Supplied/Zilla and Brook
  3. A still from the short film 'Born to Hustle'.
    Photograph: Supplied/Zilla and Brook

St Kilda Film Festival

Australia’s longest-running short film festival celebrates its 41st birthday with its biggest program yet
  • Film, Film festivals
  • Around St Kilda, St Kilda
Ashleigh Hastings
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Time Out says

Australia’s longest-running short film festival, the St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) returns this winter for its landmark 41st year. From June 5-15, the festival is set to showcase more than 150 films across 34 sessions to cast a light on Australia’s best local short filmmakers. 

From family dramas to gothic horrors and brilliant animations, you can catch the films at sessions across the City of Port Phillip, which presents the festival. There are screenings at famous venues such as the Astor Theatre, Palais Theatre and South Melbourne Market, plus (for the first time since 2019) the St Kilda Town Hall

Highlights from the 2025 SKFF program include the heartfelt documentary See Me: A Film About Redro Redriguez; Unspoken, by acclaimed actor Damian Walshe-Howling; Rage, a snapshot of the Sharpie subculture in 1970s Melbourne; and Born to Hustle, about jeweller, artist and entrepreneur Emma Addams.

All the familiar showcases will also return in 2025, including the Australian Comedy Showcase; Pride Without Prejudice hosted by Victorian Pride Centre; the Documentary Showcase; Brave New Worlds; Shifting The Gaze; Under The Radar and more. 

This year, the line-up will feature the festival’s largest First Nations program to date, with a particular focus on stories of motherhood and birthing by First Nations female filmmakers. There's also been a resurgence in Super 8 and 16mm filmmaking, with 12 titles shot on film, illustrating how the next generation of filmmakers are embracing the medium. 

You can discover the full program and purchase tickets on the festival website here.

Can't wait to settle in with some popcorn? Here are the best cinemas in Melbourne.

Details

Address
Around St Kilda
Around St Kilda
St Kilda
Melbourne
3182
Price:
Various
Opening hours:
Various

Dates and times

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