Michael Raso has been in contact with BSFF director Anna Smith to let her know that his Benalla Short Film Festival winning film 'Solitude' was selected for the Cannes Film Festival recently. Michael wrote to Anna that the $1000.00 prize money has increased his chances of being able to go to Cannes... 'I thought you'd might like to know that your money is helping us to attend the biggest film festival in the world. Thank you for your amazing contribution!!' Here's a link to a trailer for 'Solitude', which you can see as part of the rescreening of Benalla Shorts 2017 at the Swanpool Cinema on May 6th at 1.30pm. Phone Anna on 0429 367 236 for more information. Gallery 2 at North East Artisans was converted into an intimate 'art house' cinema on Saturday 8th of April for screenings of the Benalla Shorts Film Festival. A total of 188 Australian short films were entered in the Festival, shortlisted, then judged by actors John Orcsik and Tom Long. The winners? BEST FILM - $1000 - Michael Raso's film SOLITUDE - 'Margaret spends each day visiting her local train station. The staff, aware of her presence, give her something significant in an envelope, hoping she'll no longer return. What's in the envelope?'' STUDENT AWARD $250 - Jessica Lytton's film DEIGHTIES 'Explores the ever changing world of courting, the difficulties of growing old single, and highlights the simple, undeniable truth that in one way or another, everyone is searching for companionship?' ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD $250 - Nicholas Hall's - film TURTLE SOUP ''Adelaide Bell, a downtrodden 7-year old, must harness her inner strength to save a turtle from his fate as turtle soup.' PEOPLE'S CHOICE - $200 - Aaron Ellis's film SPILL 'It is 1999 at West Meadows Primary School and the marble craze has hit an all time high. Maxy, through his good sense of judgement and likeability, has scored himself a decent marble collection.' Nicholas Hall, John Orcsik, Anna Smith, Michael Raso at the Benalla Short Film Festival 2017 Judge John Orcsik's observations about the qualities he looks for in judging films were highly valued by the audience. John noted that sometimes it's the simple story well told which wins through. He made particular note of student Jack Morrow's engaging Film, 'Notes' which was told without dialogue using 'notes'.. John also noted the theme of bullying in a number of the films selected.
There will be an encore screening at the Swanpool Cinema on the 6th May 2017 at 1.30 pm. Congratulations to Anna Smith - Festival Director - for her inspired perseverance in ensuring that a third Benalla Shorts Film Festival would be held. Anna left no stone unturned, holding fund raising events; seeking sponsorship; holding an information session at the Library; organising an effective marketing campaign; coordinating the entries and the judging all culminating in a very warmly received community event at NEA.
Tickets now on sale at NEA! $20.00. Two screenings - 2 pm and 8 pm. A Wall to Wall Fringe event at NEA. Judges: John Orczik and Tom Long. MA15+
North East Artisans is auspicing the Benalla Shorts Film Festival, with the Events Gallery the venue for screenings at 2.pm and 8. pm on April 8th during the Wall to Wall Art Festival.. .
The inaugural Benalla Shorts Film Festival
Held at BPACC for the first time in late November 2014, 10 films varying in style, length and genre from all over Australia were shown at the inaugural Benalla Shorts Film Festival.. The winner was Venetia Taylor (Broken Hill) who received $1,000 from the Friends of BPACC for her 2 minute comedy Counsellor. Local resident Hayley Warnock received the Benalla Lions Club $500 encouragement award for her under 2 minutes fiction animation Top Delight. Grace O’Brien (Wangaratta) picked up the $500.secondary student award from the Rotary Club of Benalla for Tradition, her fiction film under 8 minutes . Don Percy (Melbourne) won the Friends of BPACC People’s Choice Award of $500 for his hilarious 7 minute comedy Makeover (which later screened at Swanpool Cinema's 'Made in Melbourne' short film festival.)
FILM: MAKEOVER (2013) from Don Percy on Vimeo.
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