About The Fleurieu Film Festival

The Fleurieu Film Festival is an industry-standard, competitive short film festival held on the Fleurieu Peninsula as an avenue for new and emerging filmmakers to showcase their work, it has been running since 2016. The Festival contributes to the arts and culture in the region and showcases great food, wine and entertainment. The festival is an event that builds up the brand for the Fleurieu region, and over the past four years it has engaged the local community in film and art by creating a cultural hub on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The festival supports the local economy by encouraging businesses to participate and by encouraging visitors to support these businesses.

Founding Director, Alison Alcock, had originally planned to create a night of film, wine and entertainment under a tree out the front of a small Aldinga restaurant. As word got out, and ticket sales grew, the festival had to change venues twice to accommodate the crowd. Two weeks before the inaugural festival, it moved to Penny's Hill winery who wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity.

The 2017 festival, held at Serafino Winery, was opened by the Minister for Tourism, the Hon Leon Bignell, followed by a stirring speech by Andrew Bovell, acclaimed Australian writer.

In 2018, the festival was held for a second time at Serafino Winery and opened by the Mayor of Onkaparinga Council, Lorraine Rosenberg and an inspirational speech by the acclaimed Australian actress, Eugenia Fragos. The event was a sold-out success.

In 2019, the Festival was held at S.C. Pannell winery was again sold out, with around 800 attendees. Working closely with the City of Onkaparinga Council and the Community to show films addressing the theme of ‘Climate Change - Hot Topic/Kool Films’.

In 2021, the festival returned to Serafino Winery and brought awareness to some of the lesser known facets of the region through its theme, ‘WILD’. Close to 600 attendees arrives on the night to watch 14 selected short films and the following awards ceremony. Nara Wilson from the SAFC announced the 2022 theme of “Dreams” after the awards concluded.

In 2022, the festival will be brought to the Fleurieu Peninsula with short films following the theme of “Dreams”.

The festival attracts film makers from across Australia and overseas to participate and it has become a renowned event on the national film calendar.

We want to increase the range of our audience, believing there are many more people who would enjoy this unique presentation of short films in an alfresco, winery setting. Films from the Festival also form a "roadshow" to be screened in towns in the Fleurieu Peninsula, to spread excellent and enjoyable entertainment to those unable to attend the major outdoor event. Our aim is to tour the films to local towns such as Victor Harbor, Goolwa, Port Noarlunga and Yankalilla. To date, the event has developed with steady growth and is managed entirely by volunteers. The Fleurieu Film Festival brand is thus already well established.  

Carolyn Corkindale is the new Director and event manager of the Festival. She has previously been an entrant to the festival, winning awards in 2017, and is still an active short filmmaker, thus understanding the culture and its requirements, both technical and of human resources. A new board has been established for Fleurieu Films Inc. and their strategic plan has the vision of making the Fleurieu Film Festival the pre-eminent short film festival for emerging Australian film makers.

Our Patrons

Our patrons for 2022 will be announced soon