Local Film Fests Give Indoor Movies The Flick

By Ellie Craven on December 15, 2010 in Arts

Attention all film buffs! The Eastern Beaches are in for a funky, film-filled summer, with Flickerfest getting underway on January 7, Bondi Openair kicking off on January 20, and the Moonlight Cinema in Centennial Park (which started up in early December) continuing throughout the month.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s ‘the quicker the better’ this summer, with the Academy accredited short-film festival, Flickerfest, celebrating it’s 20th birthday in 2011. Renowned as Sydney’s first outdoor beachside cinema, Flickerfest was flooded with a record 1790 entries from across the globe this year. Flickerfest will be flaunting 100 handpicked international and Aussie short-films in competition, and short film showcases including comedy shorts, Star Wars tribute shorts (in keeping with this year’s theme), Greenup Enviro shorts and Flickerkids shorts for shorties.

According to festival director Bronwyn Kidd, this year’s event is going to be bigger and better than ever.

“We’re screening a massive 28 sessions of the of the hottest and most entertaining new shorts from Australia and around the world over ten days. They’re guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and gasp with delight,” Kidd told The Beast.

The local festival can drop names like bombs, with entries boasting appearances in major international film festivals including official selections at Sundance, Cannes and Venice, to name just a few.

Flickerfest will be screening its little gems from January 7 to 16, so hurry down to the Bondi Pavilion and enjoy a quick flick and a bevy or two at Flickerfest’s fully-licensed panoramic bar overlooking the sea. You can find out more information at www.flickerfest.com.au.

If you prefer your films to be feature length, there’s more good news. You and your wolf pack will be howling at a full moon this summer at Centennial Park’s Moonlight Cinema (www.moonlight.com.au), which kicked off on December 9 and will run until March 20 and features a range of flicks including old classics and new releases. The Moonlight cinema has upgraded this year to incorporate 3D into its already impressive set-up. And if you were wondering, it’s BYO and licensed so you can really make a night of it!

If you still need more movies to get you through this film-filled summer, flag the awkward, stuffy enclosure in Bondi Junction that you’re used to watching movies in and instead head down to Bondi Openair (www.bondiopenair.com.au) to inhale that fresh salty air, listen to some live tunes and sip on a refreshing beverage (without feeling like a gold-class yuppie). Beginning on January 20, you’ll be able to nestle up and enjoy a flick with your lover, mates or the unfortunate soul who chooses to sit next to you. For a hefty eight weeks Bondi Openair will be showing all your favourites including comedies, retro classics, Aussie classics, award winning films, new releases and sneak previews.

So don’t sit at home by yourself watching scratched DVDs from Bali, get social and head to Flickerfest, the Moonlight Cinema or Bondi Openair this month. You’ll definitely thank yourself for it.

Check out the Flickerfest 2011 official trailer below: