Short Sited Overcomes Technical Issues To Reveal Winners!

Festival Director thanks a patient crowd. 2008 winners announced!

31 March 2008

Major technical issues almost gave way to cancellation of screening an entire night’s worth of short films but final transmission of the 12th Short Sited Film Festival a.k.a [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] went by smoothly after mechanical issues with the orbiting satellite were resolved.

A strong crowd of 350 turned up to Wollongong University Hall on Saturday night and anxiously waited to witness the 15 finalists selected for competition. The crowd absolutely relished the fantastic lineup that was presented on screen. The atmosphere of laughter and cheers, silent reflection and intense pondering filled the theatre throughout the show.

As a competition based short film festival, only one could walk away with the major prize. So here they are! The explosive, cosmic, out of this world results for [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] Film Festival 2008:

Audience Favourite: Hey Timothy! Directed by Toby Morris and Nicholas P. Aplin

Sci-Fi All Ages: Into The Heart Directed by Nick Hansen and Phillip MacDonald

National Open All Ages: Animal Instincts Directed by Cameron Edser and Michael Richards

Local Open All Ages: The Way Wollongong Was Directed by Daniel Stawanski and Patrick Williamson

Overall Winner 2008: Christmas Bonus Directed by Simon Luckhurst

Wollongong resident Simon Luckhurst’s “Christmas Bonus” was a chilling black and white sci-fi tale about an alternate future where Germany ended up winning World War II. It struck a cord with the festival judges.

Luckhurst took home an exclusive trophy and a prizepack valued at over $5000 including the major prize of an Sydney Weekend Away Package courtesy of Telecafe™, a feature film course scholarship offer with Participate Film Academy, videogames from Atari and DVDs from Video Ezy® plus much more!

Festival Director Tom Subjak says, “It was just simply a great night, leaving people wanting more! I’m so thankful to our patient audience and finalists while we sorted out the satellite feed issues. Everyone got the great show they came for and also had a chance to vote for their favourite film of the night!”

For Wollongong residents who unfortunately missed out on this benchmark show, a free DVD giveaway in conjunction with the Illawarra Mercury will be made available soon.

Subjak finally adds, “This year was a fantastic success in taking the festival up to the next level. Prep up for scares next year. Short Sited the 13th - screams in 2009!”

Short Sited 2008 Finalists Programmed For Transmission

Once again, strange and wonderful films set to screen!

19 March 2008

(Wollongong NSW, March 19, 2008) – Sifting through the large pile of entries, 2008 has proven once again that the Short Sited Film Festival will never be short on screening a wide range of strange and wonderful films from the Illawarra and from across the nation. With a special sci-fi category for this year’s edition of the 12th Short Festival Film Festival a.k.a [SHORT_SITED_v12.0], the festival is also set to screen a few boundless gems for audiences!

The Finalists for the [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] Film Festival 2008 in no particular order are:

Tom Subjak says, “A unique aspect of the Short Sited Film Festival is that there is no definable template for a winning short film. This year's finalists have each entered films that are scary, beautiful, twisted, logical, dark, funny, touching, genius or all of the above! Every year it is a true surprise and we look forward to seeing who will come up trumps for [SHORT_SITED_v12.0].”  

Tom invites the residents of the Illawarra to come along and experience this major annual event, viewing the fantastic works of local filmmakers. No matter what the subject, even the smallest idea will make a large impact. With great prize giveaways for the finalists and audience attendees, [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] is set to be the biggest event the festival has ever staged. Don’t miss it!

Countdown to the [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] Film Festival 2008 is on! The countdown will reach zero on March 29th 2008 when [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] screens at University Hall, University Of Wollongong from 7 p.m. Tickets available at the door for only $5. For more information visit www.shortsited.org or call 0420 844 475.

“Landing The Top Prize”

Exciting Prizes And Opportunities For Winners And Finalists…

27 February 2008

What good is a short film competition without the incentive of great prizes for the victorious? The thrill of seeing your film up on the big screen is one thing but a memento to remind you of that thrill is another. The Short Sited 12 Film Festival a.k.a [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] is pleased to announce the prizes that will be given away on the night!

Stepping in as the major prize sponsor, demonstrating strong support for a local cultural event, [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] is pleased to have on board Telecafe™, who will be presenting the overall winner of the 2008 film festival with a weekend away package in Sydney for 2 people valued at $2000. It includes 1 night luxury hotel accommodation, reserved restaurant seating, free movie tickets, spending money, and much more!

Tom Subjak states “It is a sound reward for all the hard work put in to constructing a short film, and also the most exciting and biggest prize we’ve ever given away! Along with DVDs from Video Ezy, videogames from Atari, a scholarship offer to a feature film course at Participate Film Academy and other exciting prizes, [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] entrants have no reason NOT to finalise and enter their films! The chance to win these great prizes is irresistible!”

In addition, all finalists will have their films placed on a DVD that will be given away free with the Illawarra Mercury, giving their films exposure to a greater audience number beyond the festival (look out for details)!

Start launching your entries before the March 12 deadline. The festival screens on March 29th 2008 when [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] screens at Wollongong University Hall. For entry details or more information visit www.shortsited.org or call 0420 844 475.

Film Festival Looks For A Galaxy Of Ideas

Short Sited returns for 2008. New Director. New Sci-Fi Category.

31 October 2007

The Illawarra region is set to see the return of its largest community based film festival in 2008. The Short Sited Film Festival [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] has received funding from the NSW Film and Television Office and Wollongong City Council Cultural Services.

This year's new Festival Director, Tom Subjak has stepped into the challenging role, rebooting and restructuring [SHORT_SITED_v12.0]'s format to create an additional new category focusing on Science Fiction. [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] will also be a celebration of access to digital technology, allowing anyone on any budget, in any genre, to create and tell the story they’d like to share with audiences.

Tom Subjak states “We’re currently in a phase of strong regional development with Wollongong City Council recently revealing its cultural vision for the future. What will Wollongong be like in 50 years?” He continues “There’s a galaxy of ideas in approaching the sci-fi genre. In 50 years, Wollongong could see giant mutant alien bunnies attacking the lighthouse at Belmore Basin!"

"A past Short Sited winner, Shane Abbess, is having his debut sci-fi feature film “Gabriel” released in cinemas during November. Overall, it is quite a fitting theme for the film festival in 2008.”

Transmission for [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] has begun. Start launching your entries today! The countdown will reach zero on March 29th 2008 when [SHORT_SITED_v12.0] screens at Wollongong University Hall. For entry details or more information visit www.shortsited.org or call 0420 844 475.

** Short Sited is the Illawarra’s largest and longest running film festival since 1996. With a strong support network from local industry, business and media, Short Sited has developed a reputation for developing and providing an annual cultural event for local audiences to see the work of people from their city and region.