What we’re about
Filmonik Melbourne is an inclusive open-screen short film night in the CBD. Filmmakers can register in advance to secure a spot or show up unannounced with their new film on a USB key ready for an engaged and open audience. Film lovers looking for a fresh, exciting viewing experience will find it at Filmonik Melbourne. Films are creative and raw, filmmakers are social and accessible and booze is flowing. Our monthly events are a great opportunity to find new cast and crew and collaborate on short films. At our 2017 Filmonik Kabaret event more than 20 films have been produced and screened in 2 weekends. In 2021 it's 36 films completed and screened + 16 super shorts, and a feature film shot. You can re-capture and use that creative energy at each Filmonik regular event each month.
Filmonik is part of the worldwide Kino network of filmmaking. The name Filmonik is composed of "Film" and "Kino" but inverted.
Upcoming events
2
- A$50.00
Filmonik Kino-Kabaret 2026 — A 72-hour filmmaking challenge
Balam Balam Place, 15 Phoenix St, BRUNSWICK VIC 3056, Brunswick, AUThe Filmonik Kino-Kabaret is our yearly all-you-can-film buffet of spontaneous creativity, where participants collaborate on as many short films as they can, in a shared production hub called the Kinolab, at Balam Balam Place in Brunswick. This 72+hour jam-session of filmmaking is followed by the premiere screening party of all short films that have been produced. It's fun, it's epic, it's chaotic, it's challenging, you meet heaps of new people and get attached on-the-spot to many productions just by hanging out in the hub. We're fiercely non-competitive so it's a celebration of films of all styles and scope, not a competition with creative restrictions. No teams set are to be set in advance, and writers and directors come to the Friday production meeting with a script ready to go or can improvise all weekend with the other participants. The magic should happen with the cast and crew participating and present in the hub. Short films can get written, shot and edited all in and around the hub. It's not a requirement but it's how you can learn more, challenge yourself, get help when you need it, and hop on anyone else's project to try something new.
Check out the 2025 Kino-Kabaret recap video for the vibes and venue
https://youtu.be/w0TJ4iObWsU?si=QAm2Gbxs1HRHrJ9g
Registration
Tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/filmonik-kino-kabaret-2026-a-72-hour-filmmaking-challenge
One ticket is for Directors for a spot in the screening for a film under 5 minutes and the other ticket for all other participants: cast, crew and any other film artisan participating in as many projects as they can.
Every ticket includes:
- Access to our collaborative space and studio at Balam Balam Place from the evening of Friday March 27 to Monday March 30 (Balam Balam Place opening hours apply).
- Entry to the Tuesday March 31 premiere short film screening at Howler.
Facebook group for participants’ requests and offers:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2036175089855571
Big Kino-Kabaret survival guide for all additional information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_eO4q12A_5FuBwG7Zs1LRpDvRRe_38_HdDaU-niRhgw/edit?usp=sharing5 attendees - A$15.00
Filmonik Kino-Kabaret 2026 - Short films premiere screening party and meetup
Howler Bar, 7-11 Dawson St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Melbourne, AUJoin a group of ecstatic and exhausted filmmakers premiering short films they've made in the last few days in a shared creative hub. Every year the quality and creativity are off the charts. Come see for yourself.
The Filmonik Kabaret is our yearly event, an all-you-can-film buffet of creativity where everyone collaborates on as many films as they can in a shared production space called the Kinolab at Balam Balam Place. Chaotic magic happens leading to this final screening on March 31. Some filmmakers had only 24 to 72 hours to execute their vision, but others will be editing up to just a few hours before screening. Expect comedies, drama, suspense, experimental films, action films, short docos, maybe some trashy goodness and stop-motion and animation are certainly on the table, but we don't know exactly. Year after year the filmmakers impress and thrive in this collaborative environment with over 60 participants. It's a celebration of film, not a competition. No creative restrictions, no set teams. Come and enjoy the creative explosion. Short QA after the films give insight into the production.
Doors to theatre at 6:00pm. Films start at 6:30pm. $15.
The short films are unrated therefore it is an 18+ event by default.
Tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/filmonik-kino-kabaret-2026-short-films-premiere-screening-party
Howler Bar & Theatre is a fully accessible and inclusive venue.
Kitchen opens at 5:00pm for dinner before screening. Menu: www.howlerbrunswick.com/bar-and-food
Limited tables are available inside the theatre to order meals and snacks once the screening has started and during the intermission.
No need to buy this screening ticket if you plan on attending the whole Kino-Kabaret event from March 27 and make films as the separate Director or Cast & Crew ticket includes access to this screening.
To get the feeling of the production and premiere screening have a look at the 2025 recap (www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0TJ4iObWsU) or 2022 recap (www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHGlT075OVA) with both having a premiere screening at Howler and the production hub at Balam Balam Place (formerly known as Siteworks in 2022).
Check our other events to get more details about Kino-Kabaret and how to participate.4 attendees
Past events
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