honoured with the most ‘Unique Aesthetic Film Award’ at SUFF

Filmmaker, Elka Kerkhofs was honoured with another award for her short animation film ‘LASH’.

“It was wonderful to be honoured at this fantastic festival that focuses on the exposure and critical discussion of independent, experimental, artistic, subversive and provocative films. With over 120 films screening it is very encouraging to receive an award for the unique aesthetics of LASH.”

The SUFF award recognizes filmmakers who really are pushing the boundaries of filmmaking.
Honoured filmmakers received a SUFF handmade award created by Mark Wotherspoon, a Sydney glass artist, who casts statues from recycled television screens found on the side of the road. Also the filmmakers received a custom made SUFF Crumpler bag and rolls of Kodak 16 mm film.

‘LASH’ is a five-minute experimental animation film about the persecution of women throughout the ages confirming that religious and cultural persecution cannot kill the power of love.

Kerkhofs attended the Cannes Film Festival with her film LASH earlier this year and also travelled to the Frameline San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival and the Palm Springs International ShortFest in the US.

“It’s fantastic that ‘LASH’ has travelled so far and been so well received by such top festivals. It has encouraged me to pick up my pencils and start animating again. Just last week, I began production on my next animation film ‘PVG & me’ with my very talented colleague Leigh Ryan and should be finished by January next year”

LASH can next been seen in Sydney as part of the official selection of the WOW Film Festival running from the 14 till the 18 of October. www.wift.org/wow/

Lash Opens at Oberhausen and Cannes

Last Friday on the 1 of May we had a surprise screening of LASH at the Oberhausen International Shorts Film Festival in the 'Lichtburg' cinema complex. Since early April we where put on a standby waiting list for the open-screening (a new initiative by the festival where the first 29 who register and come and present the film to the public in person are in) since we were the 30st to register. Only the day before on the 30 of April at 3 pm in the afternoon did one of the registered Directors cancel and were we given a screening spot! I rang a couple of friends and on friday afternoon we all drove to Oberhausen (only 2 hours drive from my parents place in Belgium) for a 8 pm start of the screenings. I was very excited and did not care that LASH was scheduled to screen last around midnight. We all had a fun night and even in one evening at the festival met some wonderful people. Unfortunately because of such late notice i had made other plans for the weekend and had to return to Belgium that night. But i had a chance to taste something of this very small and seemingly lovely short film festival. I will keep on submitting with future projects! Right now i am preparing for my trip to Cannes, where LASH is pre-selected (35 films of 1400 submitted) for the Amazon Awards as part of the Short Film Corner! I'll be in Cannes from the 13 of May until the 20 of May. And like a true Australian independent filmmaker I'll be camping in a tent at Cannes! After a small break LASH will continue it's journey in June to NewFest New York and Frameline San Francisco. We will join the film also in San Francisco! In July LASH will have it's Australian Premiere at the Perth International Film Festival. See you at one of the festivals!