Short+Sweet Illawarra Film Festival launches WILDCARD Night – A Final Shot at the 2024 FINALS
8 - 22 September at the Phoenix Theatre Coniston | Produced by Black Box Productions
Coniston, NSW – Sunday 8th September – The Short+Sweet Illawarra Film Festival is thrilled to announce the launch of WILDCARD Night, a community-driven celebration of local and international short films. This much-anticipated event is not only a competition but a golden opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their talent and secure a place in the 2024 FINALS. On this special night, two standout films—chosen by both the audience and judges—will take the final coveted spots in next week's Top-20 final.
PREVIEW / TRAILER | Click herewatch our festival preview
Wildcard Final Highlights:
- High-Stakes Competition with a Local Twist: WILDCARD Night is the final chance for filmmakers to break into the 2024 FINALS, but it's also a night where the community comes together to support local talent. With both the audience and judges having their say, the event is a true celebration of storytelling that resonates with the Illawarra region.
- Spotlight on Local Talent: WILDCARD Night isn't just about the films—it's about giving local filmmakers and artists a platform to shine. The event will debut a stunning music video directed by Short+Sweet Hollywood best actor Nick Bolton and features a cast of beloved local faces. This is your chance to see your community represented on the big screen.
- Diverse and Dynamic Lineup: The night will feature a compelling mix of films from both seasoned directors and emerging talents. From an Australian sci-fi romance set across Stockholm and Moscow by a French-Canadian filmmaker to experimental works incorporating oral history, environmental sound, and archival footage, the lineup promises something for everyone.
- International Stories, Local Impact: In addition to our rich selection of Australian films, we’re proud to present five powerful short stories from around the globe, including films from Iran, New Zealand, and Korea. These international films bring unique perspectives and vibrant storytelling, adding a global dimension to our local festival.
- Stories That Resonate with Our Community: Expect powerful narratives, including the emotional journey of a couple desperate to meet their biological daughter years after a life-altering mistake, and the struggles of a retired professional footballer facing his toughest battles off the field. These stories are sure to strike a chord with local audience.
WILDCARD Night is more than just a competition; it's a celebration of the creativity and passion that thrives in the Illawarra community. It’s a chance for locals to come together, support their own, and witness the emergence of the next wave of filmmaking talent.
The night promises to be a rich tapestry of voices and visions, connecting our local community to the world.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of storytelling, where every vote counts, and every film has the potential to take center stage at the 2024 FINALS.
All tickets $20 | Click here to book tickets
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Recommended for adult audience, films contain adult themes
2024 Film Festival Schedule
8 - 22 September
Screening at The Phoenix Theatre | 24 Bridge Street Coniston
Week 1 2024 WILDCARDS
8 September @ 5:30 PM
Week 2 2024 FILM FESTIVAL FINALS TOP 20
15 September @ 5:30 PM
Week 3 V SERIES
Celebrating our fifth anniversary, we have curated the best films of half a decade of Short+Sweet Illawarra culminating in the V SERIES GALA FINAL: the best films since our inception.
21 September | V SERIES SUPER SATURDAY
2PM ANIMATED SHORTS
5:30 PM MUSIC VIDEO
8:30 PM LATE NIGHT THRILLERS
22 September
5:30 PM | V: GALA FINALS (2019-2024)
TICKETS
All tickets $20 | Click here to book tickets
Recommended for adult audience, films contain adult themes
WILDCARD FILM LIST
ILLAWARRA FILMS
Cruisin' To The Nightlife
980's Port Kembla, the nightlife is sparse as the grungy streets are filled with nightwalkers, muscle cars and punters.Music by The Dark Clouds
Amelia
When Amelia meets her friends on a park bench, things soon escalate when a bully and her gang approach them. Amelia has a plan. You have to pick your battles and know what's worth fighting for and what to let go of.
Outback Dave
A city slicker decides to host outback adventures with disastrous results.
Sonder
Sometimes it's hard to comprehend how many stories are happening around you. Even the most simplest of sights can take the imagination on a journey.
People Come and People Go
Music video for Elana Stone
AUSTRALIAN FILMS
Projected Line | Melbourne
The story of an impossible encounter between two unlikely characters, driven by the will to shatter boundaries and discover what's out there. An Australian sci-fi romance film set in Stockholm and Moscow, made by a French-Canadian, that's a bit worldly.
Crossroads | Sydney
Three friends embark in a road trip to get away from their everyday lives. For Jasmine, she uses this as an opportunity to gain inspiration for her future as a novelist. Along the way they stumble upon some car troubles that are soon saved by a mysterious man. Jasmine suddenly finds herself at a crossroads as she uncovers a truth, will she accept what is given to her?
Child of Mine | Sydney
After the death of their daughter a couple find out that their baby had been mistakenly switched at birth and want to meet their biological daughter.
Terramuri | Sydney
Look closer. The answers are within reach
Australian Mongrel | Sydney
Australia decides if outsiders can stay based on their ‘mode of arrival’. This film asks strangers on trains: “How did you get here?”
Lens Capped | Canberra
Social media is diminishing our view. Sometimes we need to put a lens cap on it and start seeing through our own lens.
Did I Lock the Door? | Canberra
A woman is trying to leave her home but is unable to as she feels her door has not been locked properly.
Night Vision (while we sleep) | Canberra
Based on the poem "Night vision (while we sleep)" By Luke Patterson, this film follows a Boobook owl who explores the mystical beauty of natural Australian landscape, and discovers the wonders of a nocturnal ecosystem that exists while we sleep.
Beyond The Boundary | Melbourne
Retired Professional Footballer, Darren, faces his biggest challenges off-field: parenting, grief, alcoholism and an incurable injury, a brutal legacy of his playing days.
INERNATIONAL FILMS
Life (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Tooth Fairy (Islamic Republic of Iran)
A frustrated mother shares a whimsical tradition with her daughter, promising that if she pulls out her milk tooth and buries it, her wishes will come true.
A Very Perry Parable (New Zealand)
Perry the Paramecium must evade the predatory euglena and survive an abstract microverse to shepherd their rotifer to peaceful pastures.
God's Favourites Fall Hardest (New Zealand)
A nun, SISTER BERNADETTE, wakes up in a strange Church with no memories. The mysterious head priest Father James guides her through the church but not everything is as it seems.
Fly (파리) (Republic of Korea)
Teacher Kim has been ambushed in the school bathroom by a fly. Who will emerge victorious: him or the fly?