North Bellarine Film Festival Pass

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 15th    SAVE !!!

Open Night

The North Bellarine Film Festival opens with the critically acclaimed French film Saint Omer, directed by Alice Diop. Saint Omer follows Senegalese-French novelist Rama who travels to Saint-Omer to observe and write about the trial of Senegalese immigrant Laurence who is accused of leaving her young daughter on a beach to be taken by the tide.

Rama’s complex relationship with her own mother and Laurence’s isolation from her family and society while living in France lead Rama to become increasingly anxious about her own life and pregnancy.

Saint Omer has won numerous international film awards including the Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Venice Film Festival.

Catering will be provided by Portarlington café Pier Street.

Beer, local wines and soft drinks will be available at the cash bar.

Doors open Friday evening at 6:30 PM.

Emerging Filmmaker Award Ceremony

The Emerging Filmmaker Award is conferred annually on a Victorian Filmmaker who is twenty-five years of age or younger and who demonstrates exceptional talent and commitment to their craft.

The ceremony will include the winning and finalist films and is your chance to see some of the country’s most promising young filmmakers at the start of their careers.

2023 will be the fifth time that the award has been presented.

Catering will be provided by Portarlington café Pier Street.

Beer, local wines and soft drinks will be available at the cash bar.

Doors open Saturday evening at 6:30 PM.

A limited number of half-price student tickets are available.

Short Film Program

Unlike the makers of feature length films who have over ninety minutes or longer to develop their characters and tell their stories, the makers of short films must accomplish this in, usually, twenty minutes or less.

Many of the best feature length filmmakers learned their craft creating short films. While short films are often produced by film students, many filmmakers work throughout their careers in this genre where their skills and techniques must be finely focussed.

The Short Film Program is your chance to experience a diverse and exciting range of Australian and international short films that may include drama, mystery, comedy and animation.

Doors open Saturday afternoon at 12:00 PM.