The third annual Vertical Film Festival (VFF), which screens in Katoomba on Saturday, December 8, is the world's first competition for tall-screen (9:16) film and video.
It was founded and is co-directed by two graduates of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School: Natasha Sebire, an adventure filmmaker/cinematographer in collaboration with her brother Adam Sebire, a filmmaker/video artist.
Natasha co-organised the 2014 Australian Climbing Festival and it was here that the idea for the festival was born when Adam half-jokingly noted that it didn’t make much sense to try to squeeze films about climbing into the horizontal frame.
It didn’t make much sense to try to squeeze films about climbing into the horizontal frame.
On a large portrait-format screen, the VFF will project Tall Shorts, an out-of-competition, curated collection of extraordinary tall-screen cinema from around the world, plus a competition for vertical video shorts called This way up.
The festival is at the Carrington Brewery in Katoomba on December 8. The brewery's craft beer can be purchased by festival-goers at a temporary bar. Seating is limited, so arrive early, get a good seat and relax with a drink.
The bar opens at 8pm, screening and prize presentation from 8.30-10.30pm.
Please note that the films at the festival are unclassified and entry is therefore restricted to people aged 15 years and over.
The VFF has gained recognition worldwide and has set the standard for other vertical format festivals. It is supported this year by Bendigo Bank and Scenic World.
