We’re thrilled to announce that two bold and distinctive short films produced by Recliner will be screening at this year’s St Kilda Film Festival, running from 5-15 June 2025.
The first, You, Me and That Chair, is a lyrical exploration of family, community, and fatherhood told through the lens of slow cinema. Directed by emerging Indonesian-born filmmaker Trivita Tiffany and co-directed by Matt Wallace, this tender and textured short was shot by Shawkat Husseini. Editor Amadea Dare, whose deft hand brings the film’s time jumps and strands of magic realism into graceful cohesion, will also be appearing on the festival’s “Editors in Film” panel to share insights into her creative process.
Also screening is Occupied, a tightly-wound 2-minute micro-short that wastes no time plunging the audience into a surreal, high-stakes scenario. Trapped in a public bathroom with nothing but a gun and a talking AI button, a man played by acclaimed actor Justin Rosniak (Mr Inbetween, The Surfer, Colin from Accounts) must confront a disturbingly plausible version of the near future. Directed by Tasmanian filmmaker Hamish MacGregor and shot by Ryan Bell, Occupied blends psychological tension and dark satire in equal measure, touching on surveillance, autonomy, and the everyday dystopia of artificial intelligence.
Recliner founder Lawrence Phelan shared his excitement: “I’m so proud of all these amazing filmmakers getting into this year’s festival. It’s a credit to their hard work and passion for cinema, and a stepping stone to bigger things!”
We are incredibly proud to support emerging filmmakers and help bring these powerful stories to the screen. Championing new voices and ambitious storytelling is one of Recliner’s core pillars and to see these films light up the big screen right here in our hometown is genuinely heartwarming.
About the St Kilda Film Festival
Proudly presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip, the St Kilda Film Festival is Australia’s longest-running short film festival and an Academy Awards® qualifying event. With a legacy of championing early works from the likes of Jane Campion, Adam Elliot, and Cate Shortland, the Festival offers a comprehensive overview of the national short film scene.
Catch You, Me and That Chair and Occupied this June at the St Kilda Film Festival, and join us in celebrating the next wave of Australian cinema.
