What do the Astor Theatre, Palais Theatre, JMC Academy, Victorian Pride Centre and St Kilda Town Hall have in common? They’re all key venues for the much-anticipated St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF).
Running from June 4-14, Australia’s longest-running short film festival returns with a packed program of more than 190 flicks, celebrating the depth and diversity of Australian cinema. Expect everything from sharp comedies and gripping horror to thought-provoking experimental works, many featuring some of Australia’s most exciting talent.
The festival opens in style with a red carpet gala at the Palais Theatre on June 4, followed by St Kilda Rocks at the Astor Theatre on June 5 – it's a pairing of two iconic documentaries (Punkline and Last Drinks) that explore the legacy of two local venues.
As for the short films, there’s Baby Shower starring Hugo Weaving; The CEO, directed by Michael Cusack; The Shirt Off Your Back, directed by David Robinson-Smith; All Day Breakfast by Rachel Ko; Calm the F**k Down by Helen Gaynor; Songbird by Kevin Lim; and While We Still Have Time directed by Ava Grimshaw-Hall, to mention just a few.
All the familiar favourites return in 2026, including the laugh-out-loud Australian Comedy Showcase (June 5); Pride Without Prejudice (June 13) that celebrates LGBTQIA+ voices; Shifting The Gaze that highlights films by women and gender-diverse filmmakers; and Under The Radar, the competition that champions young filmmakers.
The Big Picture (June 6), presented by JMC Academy, offers a full day of panels, workshops and networking, while the Live Cinema Experience (June 8) sees teams create short films in real time before a live audience.
Tickets start from $17.50, with some free events available (booking required), making it easy to dive into one of Australia’s most interesting film festivals. Check out the full program and purchase tickets on the festival website here.
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