Filmmakers travelled from where COVID allowed this weekend to be part of the 30th birthday celebrations for Flickerfest in what organisers say was a highly successful three day Mullumbimby event.
The Byron leg of the festival’s 2021 National Tour Screenings incorporating Byron All Shorts, Northern Rivers Short Film Finalists Screening and Awards, wrapped up what organisers says was a highly successful three day event, on Saturday evening.
The films on tour at Mullum Flickerfest were selected from over 2,700 entries received for Flickerfest’s Academy® Qualifying and BAFTA recognised festival competitions held at Flickerfest’’s 10 day Bondi festival
Mullum Flickerfest was the first leg of Flickerfest’s 50 venue national tour and Flickerfests national and local organisers Bronwyn Kidd and Shane Rennie were thrilled to again present the Flickerfest tour for the 24th year in Byron Shire.
Byron All Shorts
A highlight of the Mullum Flickerfest weekend screening for the 16th year was the best of Northern Rivers short films featured in the Byron All Shorts programme that saw 14 local finalists chosen from over 50 entries the Northern Rivers region, competing for hotly contested prizes that recognise excellence in short filmmaking and support the local film industry.
The winning film Bama is moment in the life of a young aboriginal boy after the first day at a private school in the city, where he reflects on his fear of losing the magic of family and community after being so far away from them.
Starring his little brother Elijah Loveday, Jahvis says the film is reflection on how he feels every time he leaves his family. ‘It is how I felt in Melbourne, and how I will always feel wherever I go.’
Loveday, whose film Home won last year’s All Shorts, said the second win has put him on an emotional roller coaster. ‘I really thought that I wouldn’t win two years in a row.
‘When they announced the audience choice and we won, I thought to myself, “Ok great! Someone else will win jury award this year, I’m happy with this”. Then a minute later I was back up on stage receiving the Jury Award too!
‘It truly feels magical that people recognise this film, because it’s a reflection of my emotions and my own life. It gives me an overwhelming amount of confidence that this film will take me and my little brother to great places!
‘Winning two years in a row is mind blowing, and as good as it feels, I really hope it doesn’t deter anyone from creating a film and submitting for next year.’
Bama an important real film
Loveday says that Bama was an important film to make because it is real. ‘It was important for me to work through my emotion of missing my family and my community, and to understand that they will always be there for me.
‘After three years of making films, I’m so glad I know what I’m supposed to make now. It was also amazing to see my beautiful family in the spotlight, and to show the world their talents, especially my little brother, who plays the main role.’
The Byron All Shorts awards were presented after the screening by a Jury of acclaimed local film practitioners including producer Lois Randall, writer/director Dominic Allen and writer/director Sophie Hexter.
Flickerfest and IQ inc who host the local Flickerfest tour and Byron All Shorts competition are proud to provide an important platform for our regions filmmakers alongside the best of the worlds and Australia’s short films across the Flickerfest Mullumbimby weekend.
The Byron All Shorts Winners are:
iQ & FLiCKERFEST – JURY AWARD for BEST SHORT FILM
Bama
Wri/Dir/Prod: Jahvis Loveday (Ocean Shores)
SAE Creative Media Institute – JURY AWARD for EMERGING TALENT
In The Light Of Day
Wri/Dir/Prod: Ethan Lamb-Kelly (Myocum)
iQ & FLiCKERFEST – AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST SHORT FILM
Bama
Wri/Prod/Prod: Jahvis Loveday (Ocean Shores)
Jury Special Mention
How Much Can A Koala Bear (Lennox Head)
Wri/Dir: Chris Davis | Prod: Chris Davis, Ben Gerbanis
Jury Special Mention
Rise
Wri/Dir/Prod: Guinevere Rose (Casino)
Mullum Flickerfest & Byron All Shorts is presented with iQ Inc, and is a fundraiser for the iQ Arts & Eco Reserve.
