[author]Photo & story Jeff Dawson[/author]
International short-film festival, Flickerfest, celebrated its 21st birthday with screenings to a large enthusiastic audience at the Bangalow A&I Hall over the weekend.
A highlight of the shorts-packed weekend was the fourth annual Byron All Shorts – Northern Rivers Short Film Competition, of which 14 finalists’ films were screened from more than 50 local entrants.
The iQ-Flickerfest Jury Award for Best Short Film went to SAE students for The Cottage, a moving story about the homeless of Byron Bay, which was directed by Lorraine Bell and produced by Rani Willis.
A special mention of the jury went to Face Value, by Ellie Alford from SCU, which is an innovative story about the dangers of internet predators.
The Essential Energy audience award went to Shall We Dance, the story of Byron’s own dancing man, Tommy Franklin. A new award this year – the SAE emerging talent award – went to Zombie Taco, a very creative music video clip by the Kamikazi Katz clan that includes Max Quinn, Callan Brunsdon and Scott Sowter.
Image: Helen Stickley-Thompson, pictured front, has volunteered at Flickerfest every year since it first came to Byron 14 years ago. She is pictured with the film festival’s national tour co-ordinator Shane Rennie and the festival director Bronwyn Kidd
