By JESSE GRAHAM
THE Yarra Valley will feature at one of the world’s largest film festivals, with a locally shot film featuring at May’s Festival de Cannes in France.
Melbourne-based filmmaker, Holly Hargreaves, will be travelling to Cannes in May to show her latest work, Walk the Earth, at the film festival’s Short Film Corner.
The five-minute film, a comedy that focuses on an angel and a demon fighting over the soul of a man, was shot entirely along the Yarra Valley railway line, near the Tarrawarra Tunnel.
Ms Hargreaves said the film was shot in just one day in May 2015, and was entering Walk the Earth into film festivals, including the New York City Rooftop Films, the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), as well as others in the United States of America.
Ms Hargreaves said that seeing other films and music videos shot in the valley inspired her location choice.
“Just because it’s really beautiful,” she said.
“I’ve seen music videos and other short films, and it looks stunning on film, and I knew it would be the right location for this film.”
Walk the Earth was written by Ben Grund, who Ms Hargreaves met through a screenwriting competition in New York City, and features The Ex PM actor, Jackson Tozer.
Ms Hargreaves, who also acts and has performed on 8mmm Aboriginal Radio and Blue Heelers, appears in the film as the demon, with Isaac Still and Erin Maree playing the roles of the boy and his girlfriend.
She said she found out earlier this month that her film was selected for the Short Film Corner, a non-competitive part of the 11-day festival.
“I was just in shock,” Ms Hargreaves said.
“They obviously don’t choose a winner from the Shorts Corner, but it’s great to get in, and great exposure.”
Walk the Earth is Ms Hargreaves’ sixth short film, and, though she has had films featured at events such as Flickerfest International Film Festival, Cannes will be her largest festival to be featured in.
The Festival de Cannes website describes the Short Film corner as a place for short film producers and directors to “present their films, make meetings reality and take decisive steps for their future careers”.
At last year’s festival, 2420 short films were registered for the festival, with 105 countries represented.
