Sweet Film Festival Sydney – Hollywood to Sydney and Back!
The Short is back!
Short+Sweet Film returns to Sydney later from 22 March with weekly* screenings of all new short films.
The silver screen iteration of ‘the biggest little theatre festival in the world’ is already an international hit with Short+Sweet Hollywood among the regular overseas festivals annually showcasing a slew of fresh new Aussie and other international movies!
New Festival Director Vivienne Payge Boucher promises “a world class festival… with an A-List Hollywood finale.”
“What stories can you tell in 10 minutes? There are no limits, other than your imagination!”
Heats commence on March 22 with weekly Saturday screenings from at 3 pm at Building M, Music Department, 18 Mary Anne Streets, Ultimo. It’s just round the corner from Turner Hall where the world-famous (and Sydney’s own original) theatre festival currently is in the swing of an 8 week run of its own.
Week 1 (Drama-themed) is detailed in the attached brief – along with some choice screenshots and filmmaker portraits.
The Short+Sweet Film Festival is unique in that, for just one entry, filmmakers are in consideration for all the international festivals, opening up their chances of having their work screened around the world. With a strong international network that is constantly expanding, the festival offers every imaginable genre and supports all sorts of filmmakers -from seasoned pros to emerging artists.
*Dates: March 22, March 29, April 5, April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17 – 4pm to 7pm
Each week features a different theme, just like Short+Sweet Theatre:
Drama (March 22); Comedy/Horror (March 29); Filmmakers Under 25 (April 5); Animation & Documentary (April 26); Department of Education (May 3); TAFE (May 10).
As with all Short+Sweet festivals, the top films from each week – chosen by industry judges – progress to a Gala Final (May 17). Awards to be presented include Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Student Film.
Bookings: https://shortandsweet.org/
Vivienne Payge Boucher, the new festival director of Short + Sweet Film Sydney, moved to Sydney when she was 19. She is a current student at UNSW where she studies Media and is the Supervising Producer for the UNSW Film Production Society, where she oversees the production of all short films. Vivienne had previously assisted in directing primary school children in their spring musicals yearly and, since moving to Sydney, has been voted Best Director for her first screen production course at university. She is keen to be a part of bringing this wonderful festival to life as she has a passion for storytelling and has been creating short films (as well as backyard plays!) for years.
Short+Sweet Film Sydney, Saturdays 3pm at Building M, Music Department 18 Mary Ann St Ultimo.
Tickets $15/10 + BF. Book: https://shortandsweet.org/
Short+Sweet Film Sydney
WEEK 1 PROGRAM IN BRIEF
Fin by Lieke Bezemer and Max Houtman (Netherlands)
‘Fin’ is an ode to the teenage friendships that shaped us into who we are today.
When the flowering of Sam’s (17) life comes to a sudden halt and the rest of the world continues, he struggles with grief that only his best friend Fin (18) can understand.In the late summer of 2021 the two filmmakers met on a film production. Both deeply lost in grief, shortly after both losing our dearest childhood friends. After discovering this similar experience, a deeper connection was inevitable. In a parallel grieving process, they not only connected with each other, but also found ourselves and our lost loved ones again. This resulted in writing a shared ode to our dear friends, in the form of this short film.
Cinnamon by Hugo Morris (Redfern, NSW) pictured below centre.
Cinnamon is fed up with her lover’s suspicious ways and decides to do something about it. Hugo Morris is a producer, writer, and director based in Sydney. His debut short film Mattock premiered at the St. Kilda Film Festival 2023, and he has since gone on to direct another “meat-pie western” Dirty Gold (2024), as well as produce and co-direct The Final Round (2024).
Trip Down Memory Lake by Nick Bolton (Wollongong, NSW) pictured below left
Joey remembers and reflects on his memory of New Years Eve seven years ago as he returns to Lake Illawarra to keep a promise he made to a special friend. Says Nick: “Some places stir the soul, stir up memories from deep in the memory banks, reminding you of people long forgotten, and the experiences you gain. Shayan Murray has written a beautiful piece about these associations, through the eyes of Joey who meets his best friend at the place they met 7 years earlier. Will romance blossom? I’ll leave that one to you to decide!
Nick Bolton is a regional filmmaker, writer and director based on the South Coast of NSW and is passionate about growing the local screen sector as a Board Member of Screen Illawarra.
Just Another Day by Yash Gor & Charlotte Armon (Brisbane, QLD)
What happens when eternity makes the extraordinary feel ordinary? Just Another Day follows Cyrus and Luna, two immortals, living their lives when Cyrus realises they’ve forgotten their anniversary.
This small oversight ignites a philosophical and emotional spiral as the pair question the weight of memories and milestones in their infinite lives. This intimate story explores whether the little things still matter when you’ve seen it all—or if they’re the only things that ever did. “We are Charlotte and Yash, a filmmaking duo based in Brisbane, Australia and wrote this short film narrative to explore how we would value the smaller things in life, given a scale of infinity. We both treasure this film for the friends we made, getting to not only work with a talented group of individuals but also our best friends is one of the best parts of this industry.”
Martyr by Oscar Rosauer (Ainslie, ACT)
After a young man bears witness to a violent crime, the after-effects ripple through his mind and the community at large, changing them forever.
Stranded by Luca Floris US & Brazil
A frustrated investment banker finds purpose in the hair that he is losing. “Stranded was born from my own journey of self-discovery. The film follows a frustrated, balding investment banker who begins creating abstract art on his shower wall using his fallen hair strands. What starts as a simple act becomes a ritual—a safe space that gives him purpose and reveals his true calling as an artist. Like the protagonist, I left my job in Finance in 2023 to pursue Filmmaking. Grappling with my own hair loss and a fleeting sense of identity, I found clarity and purpose through my passion for film, uncovering who I truly am: an artist. Stranded is about embracing one's self-realized path and finding meaning in authenticity.”
Luca Floris is a Latino storyteller from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he grew up surfing and playing soccer. He earned a degree in Physics with a minor in Cinema and Media Studies from the University of Chicago, graduating in 2020. Afterward, he worked in Quantitative
Finance at Brown Brothers Harriman, a private bank in New York, for nearly three years. In 2023, Luca left finance to follow his passion for Filmmaking. As a first-time Director, he looks to draw from his personal experiences to craft compelling, deeply resonant stories.
Wise Words by Louis Dickins (Australia)
When a homeless man strikes up a conversation with a woman in a park, they end up having a quietly profound influence on each other.
Stories from my window Marie Chiriac (UK) Super-short poetry film about one possible end of the world and love.
“Contemplative perspective on what makes this world beautiful and worth saving is love, as this realm being the backdrop and anchor of a universal love story. Both poem and film have been first drafted in the hopelessness of the lockdowns, when we were spectators of our own
deserted lives, unpeopled streets when the mind had a mind of its own and was elaborating and browsing wild scenarios of apocalyptic ends of everything we knew.
Onward Journey by Paris Herbert-Taylor (US )
On a turbulent flight, terminally ill Thana clings to her seatmate Elias, who encourages her to recall a moment of pure bliss. Her memory drifts to a serene hike and a pivotal choice to face her illness alone. As the flight steadies, so does Thana’s resolve—to seek a dignified end through ethical euthanasia. With quiet strength, she embraces peace and acceptance. This poignant short film reflects on life, love, and the power of letting go.
The Pleasures of the Damned by James Lawler (Frankston South, VIC)
An Americana bar holds a dramatic confrontation when an old drunk’s unstoppable day drinking is questioned by a young bartender. Inspired by the Charles Bukowski poem; a glimpse into what keeps an addict drinking and the quiet suffering of those who seemingly give up everything in search of pleasure.
Joseline by Ben Campbell –
A social worker visits a client with a dark history.
KNOCK OUT by Aengus McNeill and Monique Von Deest (Brisbane, QLD)
Theo steps into the ring to honour KRIS, his best friend, after his sudden death. He earns the trust of Kris; old coach NOEL, who trains him for the KNOCK OUT tournament. But in his battle for redemption, he must first confront the greatest opponent of all — himself.
Short+Sweet Film Sydney, Saturdays 3pm at Building M, Music Department 18 Mary Ann St Ultimo.
Tickets $15/10 + BF. Book: https://shortandsweet.org/
