The King graces Flickerfest’s final weekend
Image: A scene from Elvis Killed My Brother
Elvis aficionados enjoyed their time in the sun at Flickerfest as the short film festival paid tribute to The King on Saturday night.
The themed night preceded the close of Australia’s leading short film on Sunday night, with award-winning films paid their due before a packed crowd at Bondi Pavilion.
‘Viva Las Elvis’ showcased eight short films from around the world, with attendees clad with Elvis gear while listening to Elvis tunes.
Producer of Elvis Killed My Brother, Kim Reddin said Elvis’ impact on culture was unprecedented.
“No one has ever come close to the impact on popular culture that Elvis has had. Saturday’s screening of the other Elvis themed films at Viva Las Elvis was so entertaining that I was a little shocked when our film actually came on,” she said.
Elvis Killed My Brother tells the story of a paparazzo photographer obsessed with the belief that Elvis faked his death.
“It is a black comedy film [and] needs to be seen by a live audience. I didn’t want to just release it on the internet as you don’t get the big-screen effect,” Mr Reddin said.
“You can’t hear the laughs rolling back amongst the audience to jokes. Most off all you can’t feel the collective gasps of surprise or hear the chatter about the twist at the end.”
The 16-millimetre film was shot in Perth while Mr Reddin and producer Lion Michel were completing studies at university.
“Flickerfest is a terrific place to have a film screened because you feel like you are on a little holiday when you go there,” Mr Reddin said. “You have drink and look at the sunset then can cuddle up in a bean bag or kick back in a chair and watch the films they have chosen in this classic deco-era setting. On a warm night it’s like a walk-in drive-in.”
After paying tribute to The King, Flickerfest crowned its own winners at the festival’s closing night ceremony.
Yardbird, the tale of a young girl in a remote wrecking yard, took out Best Australian Short Film.
Year five and six students from Miranda Public in NSW received the FlickerUp Award for Best Primary School Production, and Argentinian stop-motion film, Luminarius won the award for Highly Commended Animation.
Festival organiser Bronwyn Kidd said she was thrilled with the “record crowds” at this year’s event.
“It’s great to see short film so warmly embraced by audiences across our ten-day event,” she said.
Flickerfest will begin a national tour, visiting 46 regional locations and capital cities until May.
