Entertainment News

Skildir - a colloquial word used to refer to St Kilda by the occasional St Kilda local.

The 22nd St Kilda Film Festival was the most successful yet featuring 100 of Australia’s Best Short Films - winners of The Skildir Awards were announced last night at the George Cinema, the culmination of six days of short film screenings attended by filmmakers, film industry producers, luminaries and filmlovers.

This is year the BEST SHORT FILM and the $10,000 prize money was taken out by Splintered directed by Peter Templeman and Produced by Stuart Parkyn. Peter Templemen also took out BEST DIRECTOR for Splintered and BEST COMEDY for Milk Men.

The BEST ACTOR award went to industry favourite Kim Gyngell for his performance in Matt Norman’s The Writer. Paul McDermott, one of many actors-turned-director in this year’s Festival, won THE CRAFT AWARD for his short film, The Scree, while the BEST DOCUMENTARY went to Tahnee McGuire for his film Blandville and Nash Edgerton’s film, Lucky won BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING.

Other winners for 2005 include BEST ANIMATION and BEST ACHIVEMENT IN ORIGINAL SCORE going to crowd favourite The Tooth directed by Nathan Stone and composed by Elliott Wheeler. My Sister directed by Ch Yen Ooi also took out two awards - the SBS TELEVISION AWARD and Tim Hudson picking up the BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY. BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND POST PRODUCTION went to Megan Wedge for Birthday Boy and BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEO went to Mo er ben ying xiang (This is Melbourne….Wow!) directed by Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes.

SoundKILDA Music Video Competition Award Winners were BEST MUSIC VIDEO Another Day, directed by Rhys Graham and performed by Righteous Born Lyricists and BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC VIDEO ANIMATION going to Free – artist and director Roly Skender.

A programme of highlights from the 2005 St Kilda Film Festival is set to tour nationally to all capital cities, starting in Hobart June 10.

ST KILDA FILM FESTIVAL NATIONAL TOUR:
Hobart June 10 & 11 State Cinema
Canberra June 12 Electric Shadows
Brisbane June 24 & 25 Dendy Cinema
Perth June 26 & 27 Luna Cinema Leederville
Sydney July 1 Chauvel Cinema
Adelaide July 8 & 9 Mercury Cinema

Ross Wilson is headed your way with a totally new acoustic performance with the Ross Wilson Trio, featuring his ex-Mondo Rock collaborator Eric McCusker on guitar and vocals, Chris Paraha on bass and vocals and Elvis Aljus on percussion !

The Ross Wilson Trio will be performing at a very special dinner show at The Cornish Arms, 163A Sydney Road in Brunswick . A three course meal will be served from 6PM and the performance starts at 9PM. Dinner tickets are available at $60 and standing room tickets are $25 from the Cornish Arms on 9380 8383.

Ross says “It’s really a special show, because there’s much more emphasis on vocal harmonies within the trio. We¹ve actually reinvented the songs and it’s great to sing them in a new way-they feel brand new to us! The performances that we do are intimate, close to the audience and it feels terrific to make that almost one-on-one connection. It’s also a lot of fun working with Eric and Chris. We’ve worked together so much over the years that we¹ve evolved into this very tight blend that is quite unique.”

As a performer, Ross has constructed a show that is an absolute feast for the ears and features all of his greatest hits and his new classics in the making. His earliest songs sound as fresh as those he wrote last week and he never fails to entertain and charm his audiences with a slightly warped sense of humour (much of it at his own expense!) and his musical expertise, timeless voice and constant reinvention.

In a career that spans 40 years Ross remains one of this country’s most respected artists. Ross has chased his musical muse wherever it has taken him and along the way he has entertained legions of fans from every generation.

From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock, as a solo artist, and as a songwriter of almost mythic proportion, Ross is responsible for penning songs that have etched themselves permanently into the Australian landscape and psyche, such as Eagle Rock, Come Back Again, Cool World and A Touch of Paradise. As a producer, he has given the world the legendary Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep and more recently, The Screaming Jets. An honorary Wiggle aka King Mondo, Ross has also endeared himself to a whole new generation of kids who will be amazed one day to find his vinyl records and CDs in their parents’ music collections, too.

In their desire to create an intelligent action packed thriller, Writer/Director Alex Ferrari and Writer/Producer Jorge Flores Rodriguez combined their technical and creative skills to develop their breakthrough project B R O K E N.

Eager to prove that independent no-budget film-making could reap more than the standard ‘talking head’ short film, the team set out to create a movie that not only had depth of story, but would satisfy the senses with its
action and visual effects.

The goal of creating a 15-minute short possessing enough production value that it could seamlessly replace 15-minutes within a studio film, seemed insurmountable. Yet, the result is a tale wrapped in over 100 visual effects and told in such bold, fresh form, that its ability to capture the audience has propelled the project into feature film development.

About the Story:
A gun blast, a flash of light, and a young woman awakens to the comfort of her own bed. Bonnie Clayton has it all, a great relationship, a challenging career, and the burden of a dream that grows more vivid and disturbing with each passing night. But when Bonnie is abducted by a sadistic stranger and his colorful entourage, she discovers that the key to her survival lies within the familiar realms of her recurring dream.

For more information go to: www.whatisbroken.com

The view the trailer go to:
www.whatisbroken.com/broken_trailer_enter.html

The Josh Owen Band - Live CD
…was recorded live at the Evelyn Hotel in March & April of 2005
…features 10 fine and funky original live tracks and two previously unreleased demos
…all written by Josh Owen
…released by Right On Records

Hear it live at the Evelyn Hotel on Sunday 12 June with support by Root Bound System - free entry with cd purchase at the door!

GIG LIST

Saturday 28 May at the Elsternwick Hotel
259 Brighton Rd Elwood, free entry from 10 pm

Sunday 29 May at Transport Bar
Federation Square, free entry from 3-6 pm

Sunday 29 May at The Evelyn Hotel
351 Brunswick St, free entry from 9pm

Saturday 4 June at The Doot with Dr Detroit
339 Racecourse Road, Flemington from 9pm, free entry

Sunday 5 June at Davey’s
Crnr Davey Street & Nepean Hwy in Frankston, free entry from 3pm

Sunday 12 June at Heritage Inn, Balnaring
3059 Frankston Flinders Rd in Balnaring, free entry 3-6pm

Sunday 12 June at The Evelyn with Root Bound System
351 Brunswick St
Josh Owen Band Live CD launch - Buy a CD, get in free! From 9pm

Sunday 17 June at Criterion, Castlemaine
163 Barker Street in Castlemaine, 9 - 12pm free admission

Saturday 18 June at The Corner Hotel with Bomba!
Wilderness Society Benefit concert
57 Swan Street, Richmond, details TBA

Sunday 19 June at the Transport Bar
Federation Square, free entry 3-6pm

Sunday 26 June at the Transport Bar
Federation Square, free entry 3-6pm

Everybody needs good neighbours and Stefan Dennis, aka Paul Robinson has not only made a welcome return to Neighbours, he is also a welcome addition to the bartending staff of Stars Behind Bars, where music, film, television and sporting “Stars” tend bar to the public, to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.

Other stars that have jumped on board are Patrick Harvey and Laura Sacher, also from Neighbours, they will be haring the load with ex Stinger, Secret Life of Us-er, Neighbour (and all round spunk) Benjie McNair. Nick Stone from the St Kilda Football Club and Western Bulldog Ben Harrison will also be crackin’ cold ones for the thirsty punters at The Prince Bandroom, Thursday June 2nd from 730pm.

Pete Rosethorne is doubling up as bar tender and auctioneer, he will be selling (with help from Melbourne’s hottest mamma’s The Town Bikes ) off the following (and many more) collectors items to the highest bidder:

AUCTION ITEMS
A Pete Murray Showbag with autographed poster, DVD, stickers, male & female Tshirts, girls undies and fridge magnets
Enormous, larger than life Living End autographed plaque, kindly donated by EMI
Gorillaz pack with limited edition collectors item picture 7” vinyl, Promo only package of paraphanalia, 3 x CD’s, Tshirt and stickers from EMI
Signed Jet Photograph taken by photographer to the stars, Marty Philby
Cole Clarke Guitar autographed by each band member performing on the night
Double pass to Splendour In the Grass (it’s sold out!)
Tennis Racket and Signature Sweat Band signed by Pat Cash
Mick Turner painting
Caroline Kennedy painting
Signed Richmond Guernsey and many more!
Huge pack of Warner Music Australia CD’s

STARS PERFORMING LIVE
The Living End
Dallas Crane & Jimmy Barnes
Even
Mia Dyson
The Town Bikes
Emily Ulman

STARS TENDING BAR
James “Hound Dog” Young (ex Triple R, now Zat Zig Records mogul)
Paddy Donovan (Sticky Carpet)
Matthew Richardson (Richmond Football Club)
Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi)
Joel Bowden (Richmond Football Club )
Daniel Fredrickson (Stingers)
Jacinta Stapelton (Stingers)
Damien Walsh Howling (Secret Life Of Us)
Krista Vendy (actress)
Brownie (Triple M morning announcer)
Turbo (Triple M avo announcer)
Justin Peckett (St Kilda Football Club)
Matt Hardy (comedian)
Peter Rosethorne (comedian, Kath & Kim hornbag)
Nick Stone (St Kilda Football Club)
Ben Harrison (Western Bulldogs Football Club)
Steffan Dennis (Neighbours)
Benjie McNair (Actor)
Lara Sacher (Neighbours)
Patrick Harvey (Neighbours)

“Stars Behind Bars” at The Prince Of Wales, Thursday June 2nd is a part of Multiple Sclerosis National Awareness Week, May 29 – June 5, 2005.

Tickets are $29.50 + booking fee and are available from Gaslight, Polyester, Greville Records or The Prince of Wales ph 9536 1168 or, book online: www.princebandroom.com.au

St Kilda, Australia’s longest running short film festival is consolidating its position as one of the country’s premier film events by touring the best and most sensational short films entered in competition in 2005.

St Kilda Film Festival showcases the latest in creative, cutting edge and controversial Australian Short Films, screening more than any other film festival in the country and now a selection of Australia’s best short films are about to hit the road on tour around the country as part of St Kilda Film Festival National Tour.

The tour takes in 6 capital cities Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart as well as screening a program at the Darwin International Festival.

Selected from over 600 entries, St Kilda Film Festival’s National Tour will showcase sixteen of the absolute best short films that Australian film-makers have to offer, including the winning short. The festival will showcase The Best of Australia Top 100 in two separate programs in each capital city and a third session will put the spotlight on early shorts from famous directors in a program titled Almost Famous.

The Best of Australia Top 100, Sessions 1 & 2 will screen shorts across all genres, from Australian filmmakers who have used their creative ingenuity to make short films worthy of the description.

Session 1 features 8 shorts, including St Kilda’s Best Film (yet to be announced) and will run for approximately 90 minutes. Highlights include ‘Lucky’, a 4 minute gem written, directed and starring Nash Edgerton and ‘Everything Goes’, an 18 minute drama with a stellar cast that features Hugo Weaving and Abbie Cornish.

Session 2 also features 8 short films and will run for approximately 75 minutes. Amongst others, ‘Gifted’, a 3 minute comedy written and directed by Zoe Carides will be screened alongside ‘Drought’, a 7 minute drama starring Mark Mitchell.

Before they achieved international acclaim, many well known feature film directors were film students who created equally fascinating works in a short film format. As part of Almost Famous, presented by St Kilda Film Festival in association with VCA School of Film & Television, audiences can see the early shorts created by some of the USA’s most famous directors.

Featuring shorts by John Carpenter (Halloween), Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump), John Lasseter (Toy Story, Finding Nemo) and Eric Darnell (Madagascar) Almost Famous also showcases three archival rarities from the most famous film school graduate of them all: George Lucas.

ST KILDA FILM FESTIVAL NATIONAL TOUR – JUNE – JULY, 2005

HOBART JUNE 10 & 11 STATE CINEMA

CANBERRA JUNE 12 ELECTRIC SHADOWS

PERTH JUNE 26 & 27 LUNA CINEMA LEEDERVILLE

SYDNEY JULY 1 CHAUVEL CINEMA

ADELAIDE JULY 8 & 9 MERCURY CINEMA

If a sneak peek at our next generation and future filmmakers is what you’re after, or if you’re looking for innovative and contemporary filmmakers and great Australian short film retrospectives, look no further. The St Kilda Film Festival National Tour has a session for you.

Eight O’Clock Sharp

Saturday June 4, $15/$10

Tony Eardley ‘Since migrating from England in the mid-1990s, Blue Mountains
singer Tony Eardley has been quietly building a reputation for poetic and
lyrical songwriting. A regular performer at folk festivals and clubs, Tony
has previously sung at Cafechurch with Maree Robertson, Liz Frencham and
others. Tony is also a member of several a cappella groups, including
Ecopella and the enigmatic Spooky Men’s Chorale. His vocal style is
sometimes compared to that of Nick Drake, and with melodic guitar and
bouzouki accompaniment his performances are always moving and engaging.
www.freewebs.com/tonyeardley

Solidarity Choir - singing in solidarity is our trade - on the streets, on
picket lines, at folk festivals, at gatherings of celebration and of sorrow,
and also just for fun on the beach, or in the park (not to mention in the
pub!). Our songs of freedom and struggle come from all around the world,
including Australia. www.geocities.com/solidaritychoir

Eight O’Clock Sharp www.cafechurch.org.au/eightoclocksharp/

The Cafechurch Space

Corner of St Johns Rd and Colbourne Ave Glebe.

Just a short walk from Glebe Pt Rd,(bus routes 370, 431-433).

An intimate, candle-lit, concert setting where the performance is the focus.
Free coffee and tea. BYO and smoke-free. Doors open 7:30pm.

For more info: eos@cafechurch.org.au