Festival panelists (L to R): Wilma Kurvink (Wesley, Head Library/Info), Jane Geerling (Roxburgh, Head English), Jilian Horman (philosophy student), Jacob Oberman (Filmmaker, experienced), David Paech (Luther, Head Chaplain), Lucas Haynes (Filmmaker, emerging)
CAMPFIRE FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
With over 120 in attendance, the first Campfire Film Festival under the umbrella of the Campfire Film Foundation was a great event. ACMI’s Cinema One and The Cube hosted the main event with futurist Paul Higgins, a lively panel discussion and reflections from students, dance and awards, followed by a more exclusive and ‘uncensored’ discussion around some more challenging films at the LOOP bar. As organisers, there is much to learn for next time, but by all accounts, there was a lot to be proud of, and many people to thank for an exciting start to Campfire’s yearly flagship event. A very big thanks to:
AFCA (Australian Film Critics Assoc), especially Peter Krausz
ACMI (Aust. Centre for the Moving Image, our Screen Partners)
Victorian Multicultural Commission (under the Office Multicultural Affairs & Citizenship)
Emergent Futures, A.R.A.B., Image Control, InkSpire media, Peter Lester, Sarah Marriott (design) and our wonderful panelists:
Wilma Kurvink, Jane Geerling, Jilly Horman, Jacob Oberman, David Paech, Lucas Haynes and Karla Brenner… and the many other individuals who contributed to a successful event.
Complete photo album (by Peter Lester)
Paul Higgins, Emergent Futures
Campfire is unique amongst festivals with its passion for short films as an integral part of education. Its mixture of serious and hilarious worked really well. The keynote was also really interesting, and a great way to start the day.
Helmut Boutros, filmmaker
I thought the panel discussion was outstanding. Peter Krausz the Facilitator, was excellent. He brought out each participant, and was impressive in encouraging their contributions. I felt it was an exciting panel, a great diversity, yet all with contributions to bring.
I really enjoyed seeing the films, and hearing from the filmmakers. It gave me a new appreciation of the passion involved in the creation of and preparing films. I found the Award process most engaging.
I think Campfire has such an important function in providing a forum where filmmakers can present their short films to teachers for use with young people.
Laurie Barton, Caulfield Grammar
.
The Anti-Racism Action Band in full flight
Absolutely stunning!
Hans Christiansen, Balcombe Grammar School
.
.
Kelly Hucker (VCA), Director “Kwik Fix” receives Best Comedy Runner-up (Flanked L&R: Campfire’s Richard Leigh & Tracy Bell)
It made me re-think how I could show my films - that schools are an amazing place to have issues be seen and discussed through films. I really valued the importance given to shorts as a medium for learning and better understanding the complexity of our world. Also that film language is something that needs to be taught through critical thinking so that people can understand and communicate in this specific medium.
Kelly Hucker, Filmmaker, ‘Kwik Fix’
.
.
Friends, runners-up and winners of the Campfire Award. L to R: Simon Palomares (comedian), Frank Fazio (star, Restare Uniti), Richard Leigh (Campfire managing director), Daniel Tenni (Director, Restare Uniti, runner-up Campfire Award), Alexandra Bekiaris (Exec Producer, “Most/The Bridge”, Winner, Campfire Award 2012)
Congratulations on a wonderful festival. I have been to many in the last few years and I can certainly say yours offers a unique experience. I loved the panel discussion. It is almost like a conference crossed with a film festival which is the best of both worlds! I’m sure it will only get bigger every year. Keep building it up!
Daniel Tenni, FIlmmaker ‘Restare Uniti (Stick Together)’
.
THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF THE DAY?
Finding a short film (Restare Uniti) that will help with generating ideas related to a topic we are studying in English. Film is such an engaging way to approach a new topic. It helps to generate interest and ideas immediately.
Jane Geerling, Roxburgh College (panelist)
As a teacher I came away inspired. Teachers often feel threatened by the information revolution. What is their role as information providers if students can find out everything for themselves? Campfire points the way to a new model of education. The classroom of the future is less about the learning of basic information and is rather a place where students gather to discuss and teach each other. A place of higher order thinking and the synthesis of ideas.
In the humanities, this often occurs through the analysis of various texts. However, quality short films can broaden this approach to other disciplines, as well as concentrating the intensity of the experience - an initial film viewing followed by class discussion and then a re-viewing with new eyes all within a single lesson! Students come away with a much deeper understanding of the issues, new perspectives, insights and empathy for their classmates’ views.
Powerful images and ideas make an impact far beyond that single lesson. Teachers too are liberated from lecturing from the front and become learners and participants, as well as sharing their knowledge and experience. A much more personal, rewarding and pleasurable educational experience for all!
Peter McClive, Sacred Heart Girls College
.
SHORTLIST, RUNNERS-UP AND FINALISTS
.
YOUTH AWARD
- Winner: Larry, D: Henry Smith, Aust (NSW)
- Runner-up: Formal (online at Campfire soon), D: Georgia Jensen, Aust (Qld)
- Nothing More, Nothing Less
- I’m Here
- Elle N’Etait Plus La
- To Claire, From Sonny
COMEDY AWARD
- Winner: In the Fall, D: Steve Cutts, UK
- Runner-up: Kwik Fix, D: Kelly Hucker, Aust (Vic)
- The Money Shot
- The Soup
- Liebe in der Küche (Love in the Kitchen), [Part of the exclusive screening 2012] D: Teresa Hayer, Germany
- 0.5 Days
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
DOCUMENTARY AWARD
CAMPFIRE AWARD (Best overall discussion-starter)
Also screened [2012]:
What did you most enjoy about the festival?
![Festival panelists (L to R): Wilma Kurvink (Wesley, Head Library/Info), Jane Geerling (Roxburgh, Head English), Jilian Horman (philosophy student), Jacob Oberman (Filmmaker, experienced), David Paech (Luther, Head Chaplain), Lucas Haynes (Filmmaker, emerging)
CAMPFIRE FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
With over 120 in attendance, the first Campfire Film Festival under the umbrella of the Campfire Film Foundation was a great event. ACMI’s Cinema One and The Cube hosted the main event with futurist Paul Higgins, a lively panel discussion and reflections from students, dance and awards, followed by a more exclusive and ‘uncensored’ discussion around some more challenging films at the LOOP bar. As organisers, there is much to learn for next time, but by all accounts, there was a lot to be proud of, and many people to thank for an exciting start to Campfire’s yearly flagship event. A very big thanks to:
AFCA (Australian Film Critics Assoc), especially Peter Krausz
ACMI (Aust. Centre for the Moving Image, our Screen Partners)
Victorian Multicultural Commission (under the Office Multicultural Affairs & Citizenship)
Emergent Futures, A.R.A.B., Image Control, InkSpire media, Peter Lester, Sarah Marriott (design) and our wonderful panelists:
Wilma Kurvink, Jane Geerling, Jilly Horman, Jacob Oberman, David Paech, Lucas Haynes and Karla Brenner… and the many other individuals who contributed to a successful event.
Complete photo album (by Peter Lester)
Paul Higgins, Emergent Futures
Campfire is unique amongst festivals with its passion for short films as an integral part of education. Its mixture of serious and hilarious worked really well. The keynote was also really interesting, and a great way to start the day.
Helmut Boutros, filmmaker
I thought the panel discussion was outstanding. Peter Krausz the Facilitator, was excellent. He brought out each participant, and was impressive in encouraging their contributions. I felt it was an exciting panel, a great diversity, yet all with contributions to bring.
I really enjoyed seeing the films, and hearing from the filmmakers. It gave me a new appreciation of the passion involved in the creation of and preparing films. I found the Award process most engaging.
I think Campfire has such an important function in providing a forum where filmmakers can present their short films to teachers for use with young people.
Laurie Barton, Caulfield Grammar
.
The Anti-Racism Action Band in full flight
Absolutely stunning!
Hans Christiansen, Balcombe Grammar School
.
.
Kelly Hucker (VCA), Director “Kwik Fix” receives Best Comedy Runner-up (Flanked L&R: Campfire’s Richard Leigh & Tracy Bell)
It made me re-think how I could show my films - that schools are an amazing place to have issues be seen and discussed through films. I really valued the importance given to shorts as a medium for learning and better understanding the complexity of our world. Also that film language is something that needs to be taught through critical thinking so that people can understand and communicate in this specific medium.
Kelly Hucker, Filmmaker, ‘Kwik Fix’
.
.
Friends, runners-up and winners of the Campfire Award. L to R: Simon Palomares (comedian), Frank Fazio (star, Restare Uniti), Richard Leigh (Campfire managing director), Daniel Tenni (Director, Restare Uniti, runner-up Campfire Award), Alexandra Bekiaris (Exec Producer, “Most/The Bridge”, Winner, Campfire Award 2012)
Congratulations on a wonderful festival. I have been to many in the last few years and I can certainly say yours offers a unique experience. I loved the panel discussion. It is almost like a conference crossed with a film festival which is the best of both worlds! I’m sure it will only get bigger every year. Keep building it up!
Daniel Tenni, FIlmmaker ‘Restare Uniti (Stick Together)’
.
THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF THE DAY?
Finding a short film (Restare Uniti) that will help with generating ideas related to a topic we are studying in English. Film is such an engaging way to approach a new topic. It helps to generate interest and ideas immediately.
Jane Geerling, Roxburgh College (panelist)
As a teacher I came away inspired. Teachers often feel threatened by the information revolution. What is their role as information providers if students can find out everything for themselves? Campfire points the way to a new model of education. The classroom of the future is less about the learning of basic information and is rather a place where students gather to discuss and teach each other. A place of higher order thinking and the synthesis of ideas.
In the humanities, this often occurs through the analysis of various texts. However, quality short films can broaden this approach to other disciplines, as well as concentrating the intensity of the experience - an initial film viewing followed by class discussion and then a re-viewing with new eyes all within a single lesson! Students come away with a much deeper understanding of the issues, new perspectives, insights and empathy for their classmates’ views.
Powerful images and ideas make an impact far beyond that single lesson. Teachers too are liberated from lecturing from the front and become learners and participants, as well as sharing their knowledge and experience. A much more personal, rewarding and pleasurable educational experience for all!
Peter McClive, Sacred Heart Girls College
.
SHORTLIST, RUNNERS-UP AND FINALISTS
.
YOUTH AWARD
Winner: Larry, D: Henry Smith, Aust (NSW)
Runner-up: Formal (online at Campfire soon), D: Georgia Jensen, Aust (Qld)
Nothing More, Nothing Less
I’m Here
Elle N’Etait Plus La
To Claire, From Sonny
COMEDY AWARD
Winner: In the Fall, D: Steve Cutts, UK
Runner-up: Kwik Fix, D: Kelly Hucker, Aust (Vic)
The Money Shot
The Soup
Liebe in der Küche (Love in the Kitchen), [Part of the exclusive screening 2012] D: Teresa Hayer, Germany
0.5 Days
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
Winner: Gaia: Greek Goddess of Earth, D: Joe Jenkins, UK
Runner-up: Amy Goes to Wadjemup Island, D: Denise Groves, Aust (WA)
The Brunswick Browns
DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Winner: Love and Buns: The Hot Dog House, D: Jason Badgett, USA
Runner-up: What are we if different?, D: Diana Popovska, Aust (NSW)
What Next? Anna, Anastasios and Arthur
Night Fare
This Imagination
CAMPFIRE AWARD (Best overall discussion-starter)
Winner: Most (The Bridge), EP: Alexandra Bekiaris, Aust (WA)
Runner-up: Restare Uniti (We Stick Together), D: Daniel Tenni, Aust (WA)
White Paper [Screened 2012]
Barefoot
Little Bird [Part of the exclusive screening 2012], D: Jemma Van Loenen
Pieni Herääminen (A Small Awakening)
Also screened [2012]:
Rock & Roll is the Only Thing That Makes me Feel Good (with report by Karla Brenner Yr12 philosophy student at John Monash Science school)
What did you most enjoy about the festival?](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4btc5Qifv1r0bz1to1_500.jpg)
HELPING TEACHERS USE SHORT FILMS
