Port Shorts has been run and won

Port Shorts has been run and won in what was described by Festival Director Alison George simply as “an amazing night”.

Around 800 movie lovers turned out for the spectacular program of short films spanning local narratives, music videos and work from emerging filmmakers, celebrating the talent under the palms at Rex Smeal Park.

Star power this year came from a Curry once again, but this time TV royalty Bernard (Bernie) Curry, who stepped in as host while his brother and regular host, Stephen, performed in Sydney. 

Director Ali said the event had met, and surpassed the expectations as it always did, with a unique celebration of local talent and world-class cinema.

And the winners, a long list of them with a popular local winner in Jake H. Girgenti taking the Local Film Award with his short doco Salami Day.

Jake’s film told the story of the heartwarming Mete family tradition of Salami Day, following the fun filled day where four generations join in the salami making at the Yungaburra family home of Nonno Filippo Mete.

For the Mete family it is about continuing a long tradition, instilling that in future generations so that it continues beyond Filippo’s passing. For Jake, it is all about the storytelling and sharing a rich story from a simple family past time.

“You have to love FNQ because where else are you going to find four generations of the one family making salami in their garage?” Jake says.

“It’s very important, especially with the Italian heritage because we are starting to lose our living connections with that culture… so it is critical to capture and share it to keep those traditions alive.”