June 20, 2008 - XDT sponsor trailer production for 2008 St. Kilda Film Festival.

Please view trailer here: http://www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/view_trailer

Welcome To the 25th ST Kilda Film Festival

This year the St Kilda Film Festival celebrates its 25th birthday. Back in 1984, it was the brainchild of Mary Lou Jelbart, then an ABC arts broadcaster and City of St Kilda councillor. She found out that no cinema in Melbourne was prepared to screen First Contact, a documentary filmed by Bob Connolly and the late Robin Anderson.

Previously, films from Frank Thring Senior’s studio on the Esplanade and early Salvation Army footage had been shown as part of the annual St Kilda Festival but St Kilda had never hosted its own film festival. With the help of Janet Goodwin and Nigel Buesst, the St Kilda Film Festival was born and screened Gillian Armstrong’s graduating film, plus works by Paul Cox, Richard Lowenstein, Nigel Buesst, Dennis Tupicoff and David Bradbury over a weekend at the National Theatre. A generation later, the St Kilda Film Festival is regarded as one of the world’s pre-eminent short film festivals, having launched the careers of hundreds of filmmakers, some of whom have gone onto to win Oscars and Palme D’Ors. The Festival is continuing to nurture filmmakers and this year, for the first time, presenting an open entry youth competition, Under the Radar, aimed at the under 20s age group.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Festival is again screening free short films depicting positive images of older people, courtesy of a three year partnership with the Department of Planning and Community Development. Seniors are also eligible for concession tickets. This year we’re rejoicing in the return of the Festival to the Palais Theatre, one of Australia’s most outstanding picture palaces. The camera’s long love affair with St Kilda is also celebrated for the second year running in the St Kilda on Screen umbrella event which will again see locals packing out the Dogs Bar.