Australia’s longest-running celebration of short film returns from 5 to 15 June with the 41st St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF), presented by the City of Port Phillip. This year’s program features over 150 short films, alongside industry panels, curated showcases, live performances, and special events across ten days.
The festival opens in style with its signature Opening Night Gala at the iconic Palais Theatre. Hosted by Charlie Pickering and presented by Mandala Wines, the evening features a curated selection of standout films from this year’s program, followed by a lively After Party at St Kilda Town Hall. The celebrations continue right through to Closing Night, which wraps the festival with a free awards ceremony and party hosted by comedian Sammy J. Finalists across 14 categories will be recognised, including works eligible for Oscar consideration.
Animation fans are especially well catered for this year, with a range of beautifully curated sessions across the program. Internationally acclaimed and Oscar-winning animator Joan Gratz (pictured left) will be a special guest, presenting An Afternoon with Joan Gratz at The Astor Theatre. This special screening features a selection of her celebrated works alongside Australia’s own Oscar-winning animation Harvie Krumpet – by Memoir of a Snail creator and St Kilda Film Festival alum Adam Elliot – and a short by Dennis Tupicoff, followed by an In Conversation discussion with Gratz.
Gratz also returns the next day for a candid session titled My Journey from Art Film to Cat Video, where she reflects on her unique claypainting technique and creative career. Families and animation lovers of all ages can also enjoy the International Family Animation Explosion, a free screening series curated by Malcolm Turner, director of the Melbourne International Animation Festival, featuring new animated shorts from around the globe.
A key event in this year’s program, First Nations Women in Film is a dedicated program of short films created, produced and directed by First Nations women. These filmmakers play a vital role raising awareness of issues faced by First Nations women, while preserving cultural knowledge and traditions.
The screening is followed by a First Nations Women Film Panel, which will discuss the vital issues presented in the films screened. Panel members include actor Liza Maza, director Kimberly Benjamin and producer Kalinda Palmer. 
Live music and performance bring extra energy to the festival with several standout sessions across the week. Following the screening of See Me: A Film About Redro Redriguez (pictured left), celebrated folk artist Watty Thompson will deliver a special solo set in the Festival Lounge. Thompson, whose 2023 debut album was nominated for the Australian Music Prize, was named Music Victoria’s Regional Artist of the Year. Meanwhile, following the late-night Dark Matters screening, First Nations jazz trio SWAY will take to the stage with a smooth and swinging live set. Featuring drummer Michael Julian, double bassist Sonny Igusti and guitarist Benji Attiche.
Throughout the festival, the Festival Lounge at St Kilda Town Hall, featuring a pop-up bar by St Kilda’s Ellora, will offer a space to connect, reflect and unwind. Free micro-talks will run across the weekends featuring filmmakers from the program, with topics including women in film and television, LGBTQIA plus storytelling, independent filmmaking, and story development. After every competition screening, audiences will also be able to hear directly from the filmmakers in post-screening Q&A sessions.
These highlights are just a glimpse of what’s on offer across the 11-day celebration of Australian screen culture. The full program includes local premieres, animation, documentary, genre showcases and more.
Cr Louise Crawford, Mayor of Port Phillip said: “We’re so excited to be welcoming St Kilda Film Festival screenings and events back to St Kilda Town Hall, alongside other iconic Port Phillip venues including Palais Theatre, The Astor Theatre and South Melbourne Market. With a diverse program of short films, live music, panel discussions and other special events, this year’s film festival is shaping up to be one of our best ever.”
For more information on screenings and bookings, visit: stkildafilmfestival.com.au
St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) returns to the big screen across Thursday 5 June – Sunday 15 June 2025. SKFF is Australia’s longest-running short film festival, recognising the genre of short film, including music videos, gaming and immersive forms, celebrating some of Australia’s best local short filmmakers and screen artists.
