Silver screen short order

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
FILM lovers flock to Warburton in winter to cosy up in the old Mecca theatre for its annual film festival.
The Yarra Ranges Film Society has been preparing for the June event with great anticipation.
The three-day festival is held in June each year, attracting local and visiting film lovers for a weekend of fun, films and food.
The 28th Warburton Film Festival will be held on the weekend of 17 to 19 June, with a gala opening on the Friday night.
Members say the Warburton Film Festival will be bigger and better this year after the refurbishment of the Mecca theatre.
Vice-president Ida Haanappel said a new paint job, carpet and changed seating arrangements would make for more comfortable viewing.
“Beforehand people sat right behind each other and you couldn’t see properly,” she said.
“Now the seats have been pulled askew from each other with two side aisles.”
Ms Haanappel said the seats had been moved away from the cold walls, making it “look more like a theatre now”.
“When the stage lights go on the theatre gets a whole new feel,” she said.
The festival includes an all-day student short film competition, Show Us Your Shorts, which aims to showcase emerging filmmakers in the Yarra Ranges and Australia-wide and encourage young people to pick up a camera and tell creative and original moving image stories.
For several of the films, directors, producers and cinematographers have been invited to talk about their roles.
Check out the festival program at www.yarrarangesfilmsociety. com.au