Establishing shot: Inaugural Gippsland International Film Festival launches on Friday

After years of waiting for a film festival to start up in Gippsland, Alana Auden and Edward Yates finally decided that if they wanted to see international short films then they would have to do it themselves.

How did the festival come to be?

Yates, who hails from Gippsland, met Auden while studying film in Melbourne. After starting a family together they decided to move back to Gippsland six years ago.

“From that time onwards we were hoping someone else might set up a film festival that we could attend. We were keen to connect with others in the area and see local films,” Yates said.

Auden said: “Then we realised we're going to have to do it ourselves.”

How does a short film festival work?

The couple sought submissions from filmmakers around the world and received 50 applications, including from Italy, Spain, Germany, Singapore and the US.

• “I was very pleasantly surprised with the submissions we have got. They're beautiful pieces that are really well made,” Yates said.

After the films were submitted a select panel of six Gippslanders, including Auden and Yates, chose 30 to show at the festival.

• The films run between one and 20 minutes, and have been grouped together into sessions to complement each other.

What kind of films can viewers expect?

Yates said the films include comedies about friendship and connection, a coming of age film set in the Victorian College of the Arts and a documentary about the aftermath of the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire.

Where and when: 

• Opening night is Friday March 13 at the West Gippsland Arts Centre. 

• Saturday March 14 at Noojee Heritage Centre will also feature the West Gippsland Concert Band playing live before the screening.

• Sunday 15 at Rokeby Hall will feature a Q&A with some of the filmmakers after the screening.

For a full rundown and details on tickets, see here.