Screenings
Speaking Daggers team members Billy Smedley (Producer/”Prince Hal”), Tim McCormick (Sound), Michala Banas (“Isabella”), Sally McLean (Director/”Beatrice”), Shaun Herbertson (Cinematographer) and Thanassi Panagiotaras (Editor/Colourist) arrive for St Kilda Film Festival 2018 Opening Night on May 17, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Sam Tabone.
Speaking Daggers premiered in May 2017 at ACMI, Melbourne as part of the inaugural Arts Learning Festival, presented by Independent Schools Victoria. From then, it toured the international film festival circuit, screening at events from St Kilda to Switzerland, New Zealand to New York and everywhere in-between.
Speaking Daggers made its film festival debut as an official selection for the 2017 Shakespeare Film Festival run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon. Judged by the official Jury, headed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, Speaking Daggers reached Finalist stage with a “Highly Commended” status and screened as part of the Filming Shakespeare: Crossing Borders showcase at the historic New Place, the last home of William Shakespeare.
The film then had its USA film festival premiere as an Official Selection at the 2018 Peak City International Film Festival in North Carolina, USA, where it won the Best Short Film Award. It had its German Premiere as an official selection for the 2018 Berlin International Cinefest, where it went on to win its second Best Short Film Award. The film won it’s third award at the 2018 Germany International Film Festival in Munich. To date the film has been officially selected for twenty three international film festivals, including having its Australian Film Festival premiere as an official selection for the iconic St Kilda Film Festival in 2018 in Melbourne, Australia.
FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS:
Highly Commended: Best Film Inspired By Shakespeare – 2017 Shakespeare Film Festival, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (UK)
Winner: Best Short Film – 2017 Peak City International Film Festival (USA)
Winner: Best Short Film – 2018 Berlin International Cinefest (Germany)
Winner: Rising Star Award – 2018 Germany International Film Festival (Germany)
FILM FESTIVAL NOMINATIONS:
Finalist: Best Film Inspired By Shakespeare – 2017 Shakespeare Film Festival, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (UK)
Nominated: Best Drama – 2017 International Short Film Festival Beveran (Belgium)
Finalist: Best Short Film – 2017 Peak City International Film Festival (USA)
Finalist: Best Short Film (Drama) – 2017 International Short Film Festival Kolkata (India)
Nominated: Best Short Film (International) – 2018 Brazil International Film Festival (Brazil)
Nominated: Best Short Film – 2018 Germany International Film Festival (Germany)
Nominated: Best Short Film – 2018 Portugal International Film Festival (Portugal)
Nominated: Best Hair & Make Up – 2018 Fisheye Film Festival (UK)
FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:
2017 Shakespeare Film Festival, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (UK)
2017 Peak City International Film Festival (USA)
2017 International Short Film Festival Beveran (Belgium)
2017 AngliCON Film Festival (USA)
2017 International Short Film Festival Kolkata (India)
2018 Ramsgate International Film & TV Festival (UK)
2018 Riverside Short Film Festival (USA)
2018 Unrestricted View Film Festival (UK)
2018 Brazil International Film Festival (Brazil)
2018 High Peak Independent Film Festival (UK)
2018 St Kilda Film Festival (Australia)
2018 Auckland International Film Festival (New Zealand)
2018 Berlin International CineFest (Germany)
2018 Noosa International Film Festival (Australia)
2018 Hamilton International Film Festival (USA)
2018 Germany International Film Festival (Germany)
2018 Portugal International Film Festival (Portugal)
2018 Cape Town International Film Market & Festival (South Africa)
2018 Fisheye Film Festival (UK)
2018 Festival Île Courts (Mauritius)
2018 Switzerland International Film Festival (Switzerland)
2019 Strand Bookstore Lit On Film Festival (USA)
2019 Florence Film Awards (Italy)