Accelerator is a Melbourne International Film Festival initiative that invites Australian and New Zealand film-makers to network through a series of presentations, workshops and meetings. Accelerator Programme 1 showcased five shorts by these up-and-coming and talented auteurs.

Commencing with Checkpoint, written and directed by Australian Ben Phelps, Accelerator got off to a flying start. With an enviable cast of Australian talent including Kate Raison and Alex Dimitriades, Checkpoint cleverly played on the current world fear of military control and terrorism. Although it was well written and nicely acted, the handheld camera movement and constant in-and-out focus was distracting.

The Cat and Claudia by Lily Coates offered a new perspective on life-after-death. Claudia was bravely brought to life by Clare Redenbach, who ran around naked for the duration of the short. The production design beautifully complemented an inventive idea.

Three Asian women mix friendship and gambling in The Last Chip.” When their lives collide with a disillusioned croupier, hilarity ensures. A beautifully shot, well edited, humorous film by Heng Tang.

Denie Pentecost’s Sexy Thing provided a shift in pace with the story of 12-year-old Georgie. When things become difficult, Georgie slips into an imagined underwater haven to escape dealing with things like periods and sexual abuse. With a good use of special effects,
Sexy Thing gained official selection at Cannes Film Festival and it’s not hard to see why.

Accelerator concluded with New Zealand short The Speaker. The story follows the struggle of young Maori taggers in a rough neighbourhood, their sensitive natures contrasting with their environment. The Speaker is a provoking insight into cultural issues in New Zealand.

Congratulations to MIFF on a great initiative and to the film-makers who used a sometimes forgotten medium to take us into a variety of complex and diverse worlds. Long live the short film!