The Soft Sticks Podcast

Today’s guest is Richard Sowada, the Festival Director of the St Kilda Film Festival. In this episode, Richard shares his insights on submitting films to Academy-accredited festivals such as the St Kilda Film Festival. He discusses his programming approach, describing how he identifies the “islands” that begin to emerge from more than 900 submissions, and explains why filmmakers should focus on making the opening three minutes—or roughly the first 30%—of their film as compelling as possible.The St Kilda Film Festival returns 4 - 14 June 2026. More information can be found at www.stkildafilmfestival.com.auChapters00:00 - Introduction00:05 - First Job in the Industry02:43 - Programming the St Kilda Film Festival08:20 - Unique SKFF Venues & Focus on Audience09:25 - Tips When Submitting to Academy-Accredited Film Festivals15:17 - What Contributes to a Thriving Film Festival20:55 - Building Connections with Filmmakers22:10 - Wrap UpIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. If you’d like to get involved and have specific questions for our guests, feel free to send us your questions, and we’ll look to include them in future episodes. Be sure to tell your friends and consider leaving us a review and rating to help spread the word.  Thanks for listening.Submissions for AIFF26 close 12 June 2026. Enter SOFTSTICKS for 30% off the entry fee. The Soft Sticks Podcast is presented by the Adelaide Independent Film Festival and is hosted by Tom Kerby.This episode was edited and mixed by Melissa Pons. You can find her latest work here. For more information, please visit our website or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. This conversation was recorded in the St Kilda Town Hall at the St Kilda Film Festival. Not a member of Australia’s only subscription based cinema and screen industry support organisation? Sign up today via themercury.org.au/subscriptions About AIFFThe Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of short films, proudly presented in two beloved cinemas in the festival state of South Australia. The 2026 Adelaide Independent Film Festival will take place between 3 - 4 October at the heritage-listed Capri Theatre and The Mercury. 

Today’s guests are Jasmine and Stuart Charles, the Festival and Artistic Directors of the Stellar Short Film Festival. In this episode, Jasmine and Stuart share their approach to programming the ‘Stellar 12’, a collection of twelve highly acclaimed Australian short films, and explain their motivation behind establishing Melbourne’s popular outdoor film festival.Also, hear from Tony Briggs (SSFF26 Jury Member), Nash Edgerton (SSFF26 CANDY BAR), Ashley Zukerman (SSFF26 JASON IS MY DAD), and Damian Walshe-Howling (SSFF26 UNSPOKEN) on the red carpet at the 2026 Stellar Short Film Festival. We ask them one question: “If you had to restart your career tomorrow, but knowing what you know right now, what would be the first thing you’d do to get back to the position you’re in today?”Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:20 - Establishing the Stellar Short Film Festival02:51 - Programming the Stellar 1206:20 - SSFF26 Jury & Live Judging Process09:14 - What Contributes to a Thriving Film Festival10:02 - Wrap Up10:20 - SSFF26 RED CARPET: Tony Briggs (SSFF26 JURY)11:11 - SSFF26 RED CARPET: Nash Edgerton (CANDY BAR)11:32 - SSFF26 RED CARPET: Damian Walshe-Howling (UNSPOKEN)12:30 - SSFF26 RED CARPET: Ashley Zukerman (JASON IS MY DAD)13:28 - Wrap UpBiographiesTony Briggs is a writer, director, actor and producer. Tony wrote the award winning play The Sapphires, and later penned the feature film adaptation, which premiered at Cannes in 2012, earning 11 AACTA Awards (including Best Adapted Screenplay) and an AWGIE Award. He is also the Artistic Director of the biennial First Nations-led Birrarangga Film Festival. Nash Edgerton is a writer, director, producer, stuntman, actor, and editor. Nash’s screen credits include the television series Mr. Inbetween (2018-2021), the feature films Gringo (2018) and The Square (2008, Sydney Film Festival), and the short films Candy Bar (2025, Sundance, BFI London Film Festival, Flickerfest), Bear (2011, Cannes, Sundance, SXSW), and Shark (2021, Sundance, TIFF).Damian Walshe-Howling is an actor, director, and writer. Damian’s screen credits include the television series Last King of the Cross (2023), Underbelly (2008), the upcoming feature film Spa Weekend (2026), and short films Unspoken (2024, Clermont-Ferrand, CinefestOz, St Kilda Film Festival), Messiah (2016, Sydney Film Festival), and Suspended (2012, Locarno, Flickerfest). Ashley Zukerman is an actor, writer, and director. Ashley’s screen credits include the television series Succession (2018-2023), Rush (2008), The Code (2014-2016), Manhattan (2014-2015), and the short film Jason is My Dad (2024, Adelaide Film Festival, Stellar Short Film Festival). If you enjoyed today’s conversation, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. If you’d like to get involved and have specific questions for our guests, feel free to send us your questions, and we’ll look to include them in future episodes. Be sure to tell your friends and consider leaving us a review and rating to help spread the word.  Thanks for listening.  Submissions for AIFF26 are currently open. Enter SOFTSTICKS for 30% off the entry fee. The Soft Sticks Podcast is presented by the Adelaide Independent Film Festival and is hosted by Tom Kerby.This episode was edited and mixed by Melissa Pons. You can find her latest work here. This conversation was recorded at the 2026 Stellar Short Film Festival.For more information, please visit our website or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Not a member of Australia’s only subscription based cinema and screen industry support organisation? Sign up today via themercury.org.au/subscriptions About AIFFThe Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of short films, proudly presented in two beloved cinemas in the festival state of South Australia. The 2026 Adelaide Independent Film Festival will take place between 3 - 4 October at the heritage-listed Capri Theatre and The Mercury. 

Today’s guests are the 2025 AIFF Official Selection filmmakers, including Travis Jeffery (writer, producer, actor) and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (director) for Dusty, Luke Neher (director, writer) and Sam Gill (director, writer) for Sisters, Rebecca Parker (director, writer) for Bear, Cate Commisso (director) for Choice, Dominic Campanella (director, writer) for The Moon Has Come to Lead Me, Jada Zilm (director, producer) for The Crease of this Couch, Marco Noé (director, producer) for Mia, Newman Sorensen (director, writer, producer) for Milestones, Mertcan Damoglu (director, writer) and Caleb Keyte (director, producer) for Once a Year, Fletcher Turale (director, writer, producer) for The Line We Walk, Ollie Ivin-Poole (director) for White Lines, Alistair Schmidt (director, writers, producer) for Chloe’s Palette, Crystal Tai (director, animator) for My Monthly Struggle, and Harley Wellman (producer) for Fig Wasps. In this episode, filmmakers share the inspirations behind their films, explain why patience is important for writers, and reveal the most challenging moments they faced during production.If you would like to hear each filmmaker’s full conversation, please visit their film’s profile on our website. Not all filmmakers from the Official Selection were available at the time of recording. To read their interviews, please also visit the film’s profile. Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:20 - DUSTY - Advice for Writers03:05 - SISTERS - First Narrative Short Film05:21 - BEAR - The Most Challenging Moment 07:33 - CHOICE - The Most Challenging Moment08:48 - THE MOON HAS COME TO LEAD ME - The Most Challenging Moment10:42 - THE CREASE OF THIS COUCH - Navigating the Safety Aspects of the Sinking Couch12:45 - MIA - Inspiration13:53 - MILESTONES - Inspiration15:14 - ONCE A YEAR - Inspiration17:05 - THE LINE WE WALK - Inspiration18:03 - WHITE LINES - Inspiration18:54 - CHLOE’S PALETTE - Returning to University19:57 - MY MONTHLY STRUGGLE - Challenging Moments Conveying the Menstrual Cycle Through Animation21:59 - FIG WASPS - Opening Scene Challenges23:35 - Wrap UpIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. If you’d like to get involved and have specific questions for our guests, feel free to send us your questions, and we’ll look to include them in future episodes. Be sure to tell your friends and consider leaving us a review and rating to help spread the word.  Thanks for listening.Submissions for AIFF26 are currently open. Enter SOFTSTICKS for 30% off the entry fee. The Soft Sticks Podcast is presented by the Adelaide Independent Film Festival and is hosted by Tom Kerby.This episode was edited and mixed by Melissa Pons. You can find her latest work here. For more information, please visit our website or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. This conversation was recorded in The Mercury’s Sound Lab via Riverside. Not a member of Australia’s only subscription based cinema and screen industry support organisation? Sign up today via themercury.org.au/subscriptions About AIFFThe Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of short films, proudly presented in two beloved cinemas in the festival state of South Australia. The 2026 Adelaide Independent Film Festival will take place between 3 - 4 October at the heritage-listed Capri Theatre and The Mercury.

Today’s guest is Kirsty Stark, an Emmy award winning producer, start up founder, speaker, podcast host and screen industry leader. Kirsty’s screen credits include children’s series First Day, Stateless (co-producer for Matchbox Pictures), feature film A Month of Sundays (Madman Production Company) and ABC iview series Goober, Unboxed and Wastelander Panda.Kirsty founded and runs independent production company Epic Films, and recently launched CrewHQ, a nationwide crewing platform for production freelancers around Australia. Kirsty is also co-host of We Interupt This Broadcast, and is Deputy Chair of The Mercury. In this episode, Kirsty discusses how The Mercury’s new board members helped the organisation overcome its challenges in 2022, highlighting the key strategic priorities that have elevated this beloved screen icon to new heights. Kirsty also offers practical tips for filmmakers submitting to film festivals and reflects on the differences between producing films with and without major funding from state funding bodies.Chapters00:05 - First Job in the Industry01:03 - Strategies Used to Help The Mercury Overcome Challenges03:36 - Difference Between Producing Films With vs. Without Major Funding06:51 - Tips When Submitting to Film Festivals08:31 - How to Handle Feedback10:13 - Feedback on Grant Applications12:27 - Wrap UpIf you enjoyed today’s conversation, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. If you’d like to get involved and have specific questions for our guests, feel free to send us your questions, and we’ll look to include them in future episodes. Be sure to tell your friends and consider leaving us a review and rating to help spread the word.  Thanks for listening.Submissions for AIFF26 are currently open. Enter SOFTSTICKS for 30% off the entry fee. The Soft Sticks Podcast is presented by the Adelaide Independent Film Festival and is hosted by Tom Kerby.This episode was edited and mixed by Melissa Pons. You can find her latest work here. For more information, please visit our website or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. This conversation was recorded in The Mercury’s Sound Lab via Riverside. Not a member of Australia’s only subscription based cinema and screen industry support organisation? Sign up today via themercury.org.au/subscriptions About AIFFThe Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of short films, proudly presented in two beloved cinemas in the festival state of South Australia. The 2026 Adelaide Independent Film Festival will take place between 3 - 4 October at the heritage-listed Capri Theatre and The Mercury. 

Today’s guest is Ruth Estelle, an award-winning writer.Ruth is part of the dynamic writing duo at Word Ninjas. She is also the Business and Media Manager for UK business, Emotion Coaching, and was previously a Development and Production Executive at The Mercury. Ruth has worked across a variety of formats, including TV, animation, feature films, and podcasts. She has also been a member of the Jury for the 2024 Script Swap program and will be joining the Official Selection Jury for the 2025 Adelaide Independent Film Festival. Wishes: Windows & Nests, a short animation co-written by Ruth, won Best Short Film Production of the Year at the 2025 Screen Producers Australia Awards. Ruth’s latest project, OK Boomer - a feature film co-written with Pete Monaghan - is due to go into production soon. In this episode, Ruth shares why she believes pitching is, in part, just a conversation and what she gained from her two-year mentorship with story consultant, Michael Hauge. Ruth also discusses what screenwriters should prioritise when seeking development funding from Screen Australia or state funding bodies like the South Australian Film Corporation.If you enjoyed today’s conversation, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. If you’d like to get involved and have specific questions for our guests, feel free to send us your questions, and we’ll look to include them in future episodes. Be sure to tell your friends and consider leaving us a review and rating to help spread the word.  Thanks for listening. The Soft Sticks Podcast is presented by the Adelaide Independent Film Festival and is hosted by Tom Kerby.For more information, please visit our website.This conversation was recorded in The Mercury’s Sound Lab. Not a member of Australia’s only subscription based cinema and screen industry support organisation? Sign up today via themercury.org.au/subscriptions About AIFFThe Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of short films, proudly presented in two beloved cinemas in the festival state of South Australia. 

Today’s guest is Carlos Manrique Clavijo, a Screen Producers Australia award winning animation creative producer and sound designer. Carlos is also the co-founder of Karu-Karu Animations and serves as the South Australian Representative of the Australian Screen Sound Guild. He has also been a member of the Jury for the Adelaide Independent Film Festival. Carlos' latest short film, Wishes: Windows & Nests, recently won Best Short Film Production of the Year at the 2025 Screen Producers Australia Awards.In this episode, Carlos discusses what filmmakers should prioritise when seeking development or production funding from Screen Australia or state funding bodies like the South Australian Film Corporation. Carlos explains why he views his colleagues as mentors and encourages filmmakers to see rejection as an opportunity for self-development.If you enjoyed today’s conversation, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. If you’d like to get involved and have specific questions for our guests, feel free to send us your questions, and we’ll look to include them in future episodes. Be sure to tell your friends and consider leaving us a review and rating to help spread the word.  Thanks for listening. The Soft Sticks Podcast is presented by the Adelaide Independent Film Festival and is hosted by Tom Kerby.For more information, please visit our website.This conversation was recorded in The Mercury’s Sound Lab. Not a member of Australia’s only subscription based cinema and screen industry support organisation? Sign up today via themercury.org.au/subscriptions About AIFFThe Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of short films, proudly presented in two beloved cinemas in the festival state of South Australia. 

Today’s guest is Al Cossar, the Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Film Festival. Al discusses what inspired him to pursue a career in the film industry and how he got started. Al highlights what filmmakers should focus on when submitting their short films to academy-accredited festivals, such as MIFF, and explains how MIFF Industry functions within the Australian film industry. The Melbourne International Film Festival takes place between 7 - 24 August 2025. Early Bird passes are on sale now until 31 May 2025. More information can be found at miff.com.au If you enjoyed today’s conversation, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. If you’d like to get involved and have specific questions for our guests, feel free to send us your questions, and we’ll look to include them in future episodes. Be sure to tell your friends and consider leaving us a review and rating to help spread the word.  Thanks for listening. The Soft Sticks Podcast is presented by the Adelaide Independent Film Festival and is hosted by Tom Kerby.For more information, please visit our website.This conversation was recorded in The Mercury’s Sound Lab via Riverside. Not a member of Australia’s only subscription based cinema and screen industry support organisation? Sign up today via themercury.org.au/subscriptions About AIFFThe Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of short films, proudly presented in two beloved cinemas in the festival state of South Australia. 

Welcome to The Soft Sticks Podcast, presented by The Adelaide Independent Film Festival! We speak with industry leaders to empower filmmakers as they navigate the ever-evolving film industry landscape. Hear from artistic directors at prestigious film festivals, along with award-winning screenwriters, producers, sound designers, directors, animators and more!Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates. For more information, head to our website or email us your questions.