THE 28th Canberra Short Film Festival kicks off  on Thursday with an impressive student/under-18 showcase featuring no fewer than 23 films.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

With 780 submitted films for judges to choose from, there’ll be 280 films all up over 25 sessions running mostly at Dendy Cinemas and Smith’s Alternative in Civic until November 26.

On Friday at Smiths Alternative there’ll be the Smith’s Sneak Peek session before the official Dendy opening on Saturday.

Opening night will kick off with Clare Young’s film “Love Forever”, the result of a mentorship with Jane Campion and the only Australian project chosen to premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in 2022.

Produced by Belinda Mravicic and Rose Ricketson with Campion as executive producer, the 13-minute film sees a young girl from Canberra navigating the depths of first love with a boy from Sydney’s Northern beaches.

Another opening night highlight will be “EXO-226,” a sci-fi short film by writer and director Denai Gracie, produced collaboration with AIE Film School staff and students.

When mining operators start extracting the compound EXO226 on a distant planet, chief scientist Verittay and military officer Mathison find they must evade a human-consuming creature whilst attempting to get the serum back to Earth and save humanity.

The festival continues on Sunday with a bumper day featuring the Spiritus Short Film Prize presented by the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, “Life In Focus – Short Docs Part 1”, and Shorts For Kids, where the prize for the best title must surely go to Martha Grant for “Llamas At The Laundromat”.

The event then largely alternates between Smiths and Dendy, but there is a focal session on November 16 at Manuka Arts Centre hosted by Photo Access which looks at experimental film.

The annual awards night and after party will be on November 25, but having the last laugh, Smiths will host the festival finale with “Smith’s Shorts Shorts Awards” on November 26.