Around St Kilda

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),...