For a factsheet on Accelerator Lab, click here.

Accelerator Lab provides four days of workshops, screenings, seminars and networking events on the business and creative aspects of the film industry by leading local and international film practitioners for 15-20 short film directors seeking to make the transition to feature film making.

 

Accelerator Lab occurs during the MIFF weekend of shorts screenings which includes public screenings of the Accelerator participants’ short films in specially-tagged Accelerator Screenings to the general public and concludes with the MIFF Shorts Awards. MIFF is an Academy® accredited festival. The winners of the following awards are eligible to enter the Oscars® competition: Grand Prix, Best Australian and Best Documentary.

 

Previous participants include Matthew Bate (Shut Up Little Man!), Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lies), Rhys Graham (Galore), Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays), Justin Kurzel (Snowtown), David Michôd (Animal Kingdom) and Taika Waititi (Boy)

 

 

For a factsheet on Accelerator Lab, click here.

Accelerator is only open to those directors who have had their short selected for screening at MIFF. When submitting a short film for screening consideration, potential Accelerator Lab candidates are encouraged to include with their screening submission an expression of interest in the workshop along with their CV and a short write-up on their upcoming projects. The MIFF programming team will then make the final selections of workshop participants. For Accelerator Lab selection guidelines, click here

 

Justin Kurzel (Accelerator 2005 & Director, SNOWTOWN and MACBETH) endorses Accelerato. See video here 

"Being immersed in this program allowed us to see one another’s films, swap information and reignite our passion for making great films. I feel completely re-energized after spending these four days together, meeting and hearing from industry heavyweights and unique characters from Australia and other parts of the world. I think I have also made some friends for life after participating in Accelerator, and these are relationships that I hope will have both professional and personal outcomes." 

– Matthew Bate (Accelerator 2010 & Director, SHUT UP LITTLE MAN!)

“Being able to sit in a room for a week with people at a similar level of development and listen to visiting filmmakers talk about their craft, alongside watching their films, is a great way to focus ideas and get your mind bent. It was also great in that, for me, the relationships that came out of those few days have been durable and long-lasting.” 

“You truly feel like you have a back stage pass to the festival and every minute is packed to the brim with screenings, chats, premiere drinks, lunches and panel discussions. There was lots of candid advice about the pitfalls and realities of making films of a bigger budget and the pressure of putting bums on seats to recoup the money. Relationships to sales agents and distributors were also a big talking point and that's an area very rarely covered at film school and it's a big learning curve.”

Johnathan auf der Heide (Accelerator 2008 & Director, VAN DIEMEN’S LAND)

 

“I couldn't recommend it enough (and) it was great to return to the festival two years later with my film These Final Hours and share my war stories with the latest batch of Accelerator filmmakers. I have a very solid relationship with MIFF and look forward to bringing my next feature back there.”

Zak Hildtich (Accelerator 2011 & Director THESE FINAL HOURS)

 

 

"A really carefully considered and well put together overview of all aspects of filmmaking."

Olivia Peniston-Bird (Accelerator 2010 & Director GRACEFUL GIRLS)