David Lightfoot becomes SHORTS Patron in Board reshuffle

Founding director of the SHORTS Film Festival David Lightfoot is moving off the board and will become Founding Patron as part of changes designed to take the festival into the next stage of its development.
 
Other changes to the SHORTS Board include Kennedy & Co’s Paul Jorgensen taking over as Chair from Teri Whiting. Teri will remain on the board.
 
The Board will also welcome new members including Finlaysons John MacPhail, Flinders University’s Alison Wotherspoon and David Ngo - owner of the boutique production house The Cutting Room.
 
John MacPhail is the head of  Finlaysons IP, Technology & Commercialisation Practice and brings with him a wealth of experience in intellectual property, IT and trade practices law.
 
David is a talented young TV and film producer and editor whose credits include My Restaurant
 
Rules, Risking It All and My Generation, the multi-award winning animation Carnivore Reflux and the hit children’s TV show The Fairies.
 
Alison has over 30 years experience in the film and television industry and is currently Head of Screen Production and a Senior Lecturer at Flinders University’s Department of Screen and Media.
 
David Lightfoot, who started the festival with former South Australian Film Corporation chief Teri Whiting and local businessman Ben Barnett, has helped steer the festival to become an annual event which has garnered strong support from filmmakers, audiences and the corporate sector.
 
Last year’s festival, which found a new home at Norwood Concert Hall, attracted record attendances, sponsorship and entries from filmmakers. It also offered record prize money including a new $10,000 indigenous filmmaker award.
 
“David along with his co-directors helped build a solid foundation for ongoing success, said SHORTS Board Chair Paul Jorgensen.
 
“David and Teri have been instrumental in getting the Festival its not for profit status and establishing the board structure.
 
“The restructure will build on their achievements and help to take the festival to the next stage by introducing new people with fresh ideas and a different perspective.
 
“We’re lucky to have attracted some outstanding new board members with the necessary industry, financial and legal expertise.”
 
The SHORTS Film Festival started in 2002 with the aim of providing Adelaide with its own national dedicated short film festival.
 
It was first held in Light Square’s Garage Bar and since then it has grown into bigger venues but retained its club-like’ social environment where audiences can also enjoy good food, have a drink and discuss the films with their friends, family and the filmmakers themselves.
 
The festival has evolved to form an alliance with the prestigious Rushes SOHO Shorts Festival in London, launched new filmmaker awards including an indigenous filmmaker award and Asia Pacific Film Award and extended judging sessions to Melbourne and Sydney.

It also now hosts an annual SHORTS Outback event where selected films are shown at a one off screening at locations such as Gladstone Gaol in the Flinders Ranges.

For the filmmakers, Shorts’ offers one of the largest prize pools of any film festival in Australia, worth over $50,000. The winner receives an all expenses paid trip to the Cannes Film Festival, where they’re able to make valuable contacts to further their career.
 
The Festival has strong corporate support including Principal sponsorship from Flinders University, and Major Sponsors Beach Energy, Finlaysons, Kennedy & Co and the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peter’s.
 
It also receives some government support through Abaf, Arts SA and the South Australian Film Corporation.
 
The 2012 SHORTS Film Festival will be held at Norwood Concert Hall from April 28 – May 5, 2012.
 
For more information, visit the Shorts Film Festival website at www.shortsfilmfestival.com

ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Please contact Simon Hatcher on (08) 8412 4100 or simon@hughespr.com.au