Complimenting Strangers

A shiny happy video showing how strangers react to random compliments:
“Just having fun being friendly to strangers, hoping to brighten their day! ”

Watch the video here.

Lights, Camera TRACKtion

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is now open for submissions for the Lights, Camera TRACKtion: Melbourne Shorts presented by Yarra Trams competition, a special event to be held at the 2009 Festival to celebrate Melbourne’s iconic trams on film. Entry is open to all short films (Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Music Videos) that must feature either a tram/trams as a focal point or as imagery in the film.

A judging panel will select the ten best Lights, Camera, TRACKtion shorts which will be shown at the Australian Centre of Moving Image (ACMI) on Thursday 6 August, 2009 at 7.00pm. First, Second and Third prizes will be awarded by a special judging panel on the night made up of prominent film industry and Melbourne personalities.

First prize will be awarded $3,500.
Second prize will be awarded $2,500.
Third prize will be awarded $1,000.

The Lights, Camera, TRACKtion competition is an initiative to provide a forum for professional and amateur filmmakers alike to celebrate the tram as a Melbourne icon.

•    Lights, Camera, TRACKtion short film entry deadline – 5pm Friday 5 June 2009.

More information: http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/lights_camera__tracktion

Flickerfest

In its 18th year Flickerfest brings Melbourne two nights of short brilliance as it finishes off the 18 venue national tour.
 
For Melbourne’s screening pleasure, Flickerfest has curated two nights of outstanding short films this March. The Opening Night festivities will see 13 short films from Melbourne’s best filmmakers in ‘Best Of Melbourne Shorts’ including; Frank Woodley’s Chicken of God, an hilarious tale of a chicken saved from slaughter because its comb resembles the face of Jesus; the internationally acclaimed animation Mutt; Steve Baker’s AFI-winning animation Dog With Electric Collar; and 2008 Cannes official entrant My Rabit Hoppy.
 
The second night of Flickerfest at the Kino sees a ‘Celebrity Shorts Special Programme’, full of A-list names including; the Kate Hudson directed short Cutlass starring Kurt Russell; Hole in the Paper Sky directed by and starring Jessica Biel; internationally renowned auteur Lars Von Trier returns to short films with Occupations about a business man who cannot keep his mouth shut during a screening at the Cannes Film Festival, plus other films directed by the likes of Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Aniston and starring famous friends such as Bob Geldof and Winona Ryder.

MORE INFORMATION: www.flickerfest.com.au
WHEN: Thursday 26 and Friday 27 March, 2009
VENUE: Kino, 45 Collins St Melbourne
TICKETS: Flickerfest Best Of Melbourne Opening Night, 7pm Thursday 26th Of March $18.50/Conc $16.50
Ticket prices include Best Of Melbourne Shorts plus after screening party with drinks
Celebrity Shorts, 7pm Friday 27th of March  $15.50/Conc $13.50

FedFest 2009 – Sunday 15th March – Melbourne

The freshest, most compelling and most innovative short films of recent times will battle it out on the outdoor screen for over $30,000 in prizes and the adulation of you the audience. There is a wealth of sheer talent in the final 15 short films to be screened: amongst the grassy plains of the Federation Square main plaza…that’s right folks, grassy plains. Over 1500 sqm of astro turf will be laid down for your viewing pleasure to take in FedFest 2009.

Make your way to Federation Square from 5pm to be entertained by the likes of DJs Jen Tutty and Emma Peel spinning some cool tunes alongside the circus styling’s of ‘Urban Cirque’ with stilt walkers ‘Empyrean’ and juggling by ‘Joshua Hope’, not to mention the hip shaking moves of the ‘Hipster Go-Go Dancers’ weaving their way through the audience before the films at sunset.

As sunset, the first film program will mesmerize, bewilder and captivate you as the latest crop of filmmaking talent to emerge from Australia takes you on visual journey guaranteed to entertain you beyond belief.

Intermission gives you a chance to get yourself out of your deck chair, up off the astro turf and moving to the percussive beats of Funk Del Mundo before program 2 kicks off.

This festival promises to be the only way you could want to spend one last brilliant evening outdoors, so dress warm, pack that picnic hamper, grab a blanket and don’t let the first days of autumn hold you back, because it won’t get any fresher than this.

Located in the outdoor plaza of Federation Square, FedFest comes to life for one day only…Sunday March 15th

LISTING INFORMATION
Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
Melways References 2007: Page 1B, ref P11 Map 593
Free event from 5pm

FedFest 09 – Melbourne

Indulge your senses as Melbourne’s freshest short film festival, FedFest 09 come to life! Celebrate the cream of filmmaking talent to emerge from our shores and feast upon a program of the very best short films produced in recent times. Be inspired; be entertained in a vibrant carnival style atmosphere with roving performance by ‘FAD’.

Productions, stilt walking by Empyrean, Monash School of fire twirling, live drumming by Funk Del Mundo alongside some of Melbourne’s most prominent DJ’s Jen Tutty & Emma Peel.

Date: Sunday March 15th 2009
Films start at 8.00pm
Venue; Federation Square, Main Plaza, Melbourne

Price: Entry is free

Website: www.fedfest.com