Of the 87 films entered into this year’s Benalla Short Film Festival, 10 were shortlisted by the judging panel.
Bruce Hunt-Hughes, who has spent over 20 years as a professional actor after graduating from the National Institute of the Dramatic Arts, is now in his second year on the festival’s judging panel.
While he said hours went into assessing the many films submitted, he was passionate about many of those that made the shortlist.
“It’s very hard to arrive at a decision on which is best, especially when you’re comparing different genres, like a comedy to a kind of horror, for example,” Mr Hunt-Hughes said.
“When you watch a series of films, and then you see one that’s great, you get really excited about it because it’s good.”
This year’s festival promises a strong showing of films, with strong shorts submitted from Iran and the United States.
Mr Hunt-Hughes said there were a number of real standouts.
“We’ve got some serious films, like Pomegranate, which is a film from Iran that’s beautifully told,” he said.
“There’s one from the US called Hold, which is also extraordinary. Very different films, but both very strong.
“There’s also a documentary made by a student filmmaker, Women of the Waves, which is about women who surf.”
The list goes on of films to awe the audience, which each will range from three to 14 minutes of unique storytelling.
Local and national films will also be screened, spotlighting the range of filmmakers who made it to the shortlist.
Mr Hunt-Hughes said it was wonderful to spotlight the hard work of those behind these shortlisted films.
“It would have taken hours for every minute that you’ve got on screen. It takes hours of work, and I’m speaking as somebody who has been involved with a number of projects myself, as an actor,” he said.
“It takes an enormous amount of work, and that’s the pleasure of judging; is seeing this wide range of things that people have felt passionately enough about to make into a short film, and some of them are really first class.”
Now in its 11th year, the festival has now been nominated two years in a row for the Victorian Community Achievement Award.
Held at the Benalla Cinema, 14 Mair St, on Sunday, November 9, the event will begin with the premiere and awards ceremony at 3pm, followed by a public screening from 6pm.
Tickets, from $15, can be purchased at benallacinema.com.au
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