St Kilda Film Festival 2026 Announces Top Shorts Winners
At St Kilda Town Hall on Sunday, 14 June, the 42nd St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF) crowned its Top Shorts champions. Hosted by Brian Nankervis, the ceremony awarded Best Short Film to Sarah Giles’ 15‑minute drama Writers in Love and Best Documentary to Ava Grimshaw‑Hall’s 15‑minute feature While We Still Have Time. Both titles earned Academy Awards accreditation, the highest honor the festival can bestow.
The festival opened its doors on 5 June and ran for ten days across five venues, including the Palais Theatre and St Kilda Town Hall. A record 960 short‑film submissions arrived from across Australia, according to the festival’s press release. A jury of alumni and industry experts sifted through more than 190 screened entries, selecting winners in a competition that spans directing, screenwriting, cinematography, documentary, animation, acting and sound.
Writers in Love took home the $10,000 prize for Best Short Film, the competition’s top award. The narrative, driven by Giles’ direction and a tightly paced script, was praised by the jury for its emotional resonance and technical polish. While We Still Have Time earned the Best Documentary title and the accompanying Academy accreditation, a coveted credential that opens the door to consideration at the Oscars.
The Top Shorts competition offers a total prize pool that exceeds $40,000. In addition to cash, winners receive industry recognition and the possibility of Academy eligibility. The festival’s accreditation program is a major draw for Australian short‑form filmmakers seeking wider exposure.
Technical categories highlighted the breadth of talent showcased at the festival. Kenneth King won Best Original Score for Fracture. Noah Kiely, Gus Threlfall and Keith Thomas were awarded Best Achievement in Sound Post‑production for Headphones. Phoebe Taylor earned Best Achievement in Editing for The Shirt Off Your Back, while Annelise Hickey was honored for Best Achievement in Screenplay for Stranger, Brother. Jaclyn Paterson received Best Achievement in Cinematography for The Shirt Off Your Back.
The closing night also celebrated achievements in Indigenous filmmaking, youth shorts and production design. Bringing His Spirit Home claimed Best Achievement in Indigenous Filmmaking, and Imogen Walsh’s Headphones secured Best Achievement in Production Design. The Best Young Actor award was shared by Conor Weir and Tobias Cichero of VANDALS, and Nat Damena took Best Actor for Question 57.
SKFF’s 2026 programme emphasized diverse voices and technical excellence, mirroring the growth of the Australian short‑film community. With record submissions and a robust award structure, the festival remains a pivotal platform for emerging talent. The Academy accreditation awarded to Writers in Love and While We Still Have Time positions them for potential consideration at the upcoming Oscars.
The festival’s announcement also highlighted new industry partnerships. A collaboration with the Australian Film Institute will support emerging filmmakers, while ongoing sponsorship from the City of Port Phillip, VicScreen and Panavision continues to underpin the event’s sustainability.
Attendance figures from the press release show that more than 5,000 viewers experienced the festival across all venues. The official SKFF website lists the full roster of winners and details the programme’s programming and future dates. SKFF’s 2027 schedule has already been released, underscoring the festival’s continued commitment to showcasing Australian short‑form storytelling.
