RMIT films showcased at St Kilda Film Festival

The festival is now an Academy Awards qualifying event, with award-winning films from the festival eligible for consideration in the Short Film Awards and Documentary Short sections of the Oscars.

RMIT is a proud sponsor of the annual festival, providing the Under The Radar Best Youth Film award.

A number of RMIT graduates, a staff member and a current student have had films accepted in 2017.

Films by Bachelor of Communication (Media) graduates showing at this year's festival include Happy (Stacey Kwijas), Tinseltown (Corrie Chen), Fim Creswick (Emma Haarburger, who also produced two music videos), and Reading the Wind (Adam Ricco).

Current student Michael Firus created his SKFF entry in his first year as part of the "Go out into the world and do great things" studio run by lecturer and filmmaker Kim Munro.

Firus describes his film A Prickly Affair as a short character-driven documentary focusing on the themes of environment, the vitality of age and Melbourne's thriving artisanal culture.

He said the most valuable parts of studying at RMIT are the contacts and practical opportunities available to students.

“For example, last year, in my first year of university, I received an internship opportunity through RMIT for the advertising company CHE Proximity in South Yarra,” he said.

“It was there where I met many media professionals who offered advice on my practice.”

Firus wants to use his degree to acquire a position in video advertising with a view to transitioning to a motion picture or commercial documentary director.

Program Manager Rachel Wilson said it was important to acknowledge how unusual and special it is that a film made during a students first year is accepted into such a major festival. 

“We are all extremely impressed with Michael’s motivation and dedication to exploring the many opportunities in the field,” she said.

Tom Bell's SKFF entry Prodigy, Prodigy, Prodigy was a graduate film made at RMIT while he was studying the Bachelor of Design (Animation and Interactive Media).

“It’s a partially non-naturalistic stop motion narrative about a couple of housemates negotiating a move," he said.

“Animation is a fantastic medium for storytelling.

"I have always been enamoured of the beauty and breadth of tools available to storytellers in animated film, TV and games.

“For me, narrative fiction is such an important part of life.”

Bell said the passion and experience of the staff and teachers at RMIT meant someone was always available to help problem-solve one of the myriad complications that arise in animation and film.

In the future he wants to keep telling stories as long as he can.

“Being a part of an artistic community that describes and challenges the world is where I want to be.”

Animation lecturer Mark Lycette produced Bell’s film and said staff, students and alumni are proud of Tom's and Michael’s achievements, with their graduate works selected for festival audiences.

“It recognises the commitment to their study and the supportive environment that we strive to provide our students,” he said.

Staff member Ashley Perry, a lecturer in the Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication), directed Police Officer TAKAGI which was also selected for the festival.

The St Kilda Film Festival runs from May 18 to 27 at the Palais Theatre and the St Kilda Town Hall.

Story: Wendy Little