Sydney Film School has announced a new initiative for its 21st Sydney Film School Festival: for the first time, Sydney Film School festival films will be released online at the same moment they have their premiere screening in Sydney.

Broadening the reach of the Sydney-based film festival, the release will offer audiences worldwide the opportunity to view and share a carefully curated selection of eight outstanding short films from the 21st Sydney Film School Festival: from Thursday 11 December 7pm AEST until Thursday 18 December 7pm AEST only.

Founder and artistic director of Sydney Film School Ben Ferris said “The Sydney Film School community is spread around the world, so it makes sense to screen our films on an international platform.

“The initiative is all about reaching a broader online audience, increasing audience engagement and ensuring that our students’ work is showcased to as wide an audience as possible. There are about 1,000 people who attend our film festivals in Sydney, but YouTube is a global platform that reaches a billion people every month.“

The eight short films will be available on the Sydney Film School YouTube channel from 7pm on 11th December to 7pm on 18th December. Viewers will be able to watch the films at their leisure and are invited to ‘like’, share and comment on the films. The short film with the most likes will win the Festival’s Online Audience Award.

Screening major works from local, interstate and international students, the 21st Sydney Film School Festival will be showcasing a broad range of short films ranging from documentaries and animation to live action and drama.

Sydney Film School is recognised worldwide for its focus on story-telling and comprehensive hands-on training. With a high rate of graduate employment, the school has produced a broad range of key screen industry talent including directors Gracie Otto (The Last Impresario) and Maya Newell (Gayby Baby), visual effects editor Dave Quinn (Mad Max: Fury Road) and producer/director assistant Ana Jimenez (The Rocket).

THE 21ST SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL FESTIVAL ON DEMAND

DATES: 7:00 PM December 11th to 7:00 PM December 17th.

LOCATION: Sydney Film School YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/sydneyfilm

FILM PROGRAM

I’m Coming Home (Documentary / 7’48’’)

Director: Teresa Carante (Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Italian

Logline: A national tragedy intersects with a personal one.

Synopsis: Inspired by the sinking of the South Korean ferry in July 2014 while carrying mostly secondary school students; 304 passengers died in the disaster. Teresa’s family went through a similar ordeal, losing their first born in a drowning accident.

On Hold (Fiction / 17’23’’)

Director: Matilda Cassey (Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Australian

Logline: A call to Centrelink is… on hold.

Synopsis: A retired theatre performer tries to end a drug-induced hallucination by calling a helpline, only to emerge as a youthful and spellbinding opera singer.

Home (Documentary / 10’27’’)

Director: Mona Ibrahim (Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Egyptian

Logline: Home is what you carry with you – an Egyptian’s story.

Synopsis: The story of an Egyptian migrant who carries fresh memories from the Egyptian revolution of 2011. Could she overcome her grief from the past in Sydney?

The Last Sonata (Fiction / 9’)

Director: Matthew Wilby (Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Australian

Logline: An old lady’s journey across town to find her beginning.

Synopsis: Isla Hallmark was once a prominent pianist. Now suffering dementia, she reminisces about one of her proudest memories that takes her on a journey of polarizing realities.

From Above (Documentary / 22’)

Director: Robin Kover (Advanced Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Swedish

Logline: The challenges of aerial cinematography in the Tasmanian wilderness.

Synopsis: As time runs out for the Tarkine National Park, an aerial cinematographer tries to capture the wild and unique images of the unprotected great wilderness.

Thug’s Love (Fiction / 16’)

Director: Clifford McBride (Advanced Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Australian

Logline: A gangster discovers something special to save a baby’s life.

Synopsis: A mother is caught in a cross fire and killed by Sydney’s Triads, leaving behind her infant child. Chan, a veteran gang member, hides the baby and takes him home. Chan unexpectedly discovers he has maternal attributes.

At The End of The Road (Fiction / 8’22’’)

Director: Chloé Hetzel (Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Swiss

Logline: In the middle of nowhere, Jacob and his grandson face the biggest question.

Synopsis: On a road trip in the middle of rural Australia, Jacob and his grandson George spend their last day together on earth.

Resonance (Fiction / 10’26’’)

Director: Raphael Palencia (Advanced Diploma of Screen & Media)

Nationality: Filipino

Logline: Resonance is a story of strength and longing, transcending generations.

Synopsis: A young couple reflects on the elderly couple next door..

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