The Flickerfest programs present a selection of entertaining, inspiring and award-winning films handpicked from the festival’s 2500 entries, giving audiences the first look at the hottest shorts in the world today.

Highlights from the Best of Australian Shorts include the beautifully crafted Australian animation After All, which was awarded both Best Short Australian animation and Best Screenplay at the Flickerfest awards ceremony and the delightfully quirky animation Martha The Monster, starring the voices of actress Rose Byrne and her husband Bobby Cannavale.

The inspiring Miro, an Aboriginal western short film staring Mark Coles Smith and written and directed by local Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, is a part of the program and Victoria will attend the screening to introduce the film.

Also screening is the atmospheric coming-of-age drama Buoy that draws on the mythic power of the ocean, showcasing powerful performances from cast Otis Oates (The Code, Deep Water) and Oscar Redding (Top of the Lake, The High Road).

Buoy was filmed in Kiama where co-director Justin McMillan grew up.

“By the time you reach 15, you think you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders, but in reality your life is gravy,” McMillan said.

“No one can tell you anything because you know everything already.

“After reading the script for Buoy and reflecting on my own teenage years, I knew we could make it great if we set the film in Kiama reflecting the ocean side lifestyle of the place where I grew up.

“I’m also lucky to still have an amazing group of family and friends in Kiama that were keen to be involved in the project – without their support, there’s no way this film would have seen the light of day.”

McMillan plans to create a feature length film, which will also be set at sea. 

“The original motivation behind this film was to prove myself as a film maker, so I could make a feature film,” he said. 

“I’m working on a long form concept that’s set at sea. I was told by my agent that we needed to make a narrative film set at sea to support our pitch –  so we made Buoy happen.” 

McMillan, who is married with three small children, said his “plate is always full”.

“I’m always busy working on commercials, but I’ve got a few projects on the boil that will go into production in the coming months that I’m really excited about,” he said.  

“I’ve shot a few commercials around Kiama over the last few years and I always love coming back.

“It’s funny how I haven’t lived there for more than 20-years, but I still call it home. Its a special place full of amazing characters and I feel blessed to have grown up there.” 

Also screening is the stunning short out of NZ The World In Your Window, which was awarded Best International Short Film at the Flickerfest awards, the moving Academy Award nominated All Of Us (Watu Wote) from Germany and the hilarious An Imagined Conversation With Kanye West And Stephen Hawking from Canada, in which Hawking and West discuss dance moves, Drake and the art of divination. 

Details: Flickerfest 2018 - Best of Australian Shorts, Best of International Shorts, Huskisson Pictures, $15/13 ($27/21 for both sessions), Saturday, March 24, 6pm opening night drinks and nibbles, 6.30pm Best Of Australian Shorts and 8.30pm Best Of International Shorts.

Tickets and information at www.huskipics.com.au or by phoning 4441 5076.