Showing the best films of the festival, the eight-week tour will also include eight new locations on its touring schedule.

Castlemaine will host the festival on July 8 while Wonthaggi, Mirboo North, Numurkah, Fish Creek, Dandenong and Portland are also included on the 19-town tour.

Festival director Paul Harris is looking forward to short films made by some of Australia’s most talented and versatile filmmakers being made available to the wider public.

“The attendance at this year’s St Kilda Film Festival shows that the diversity of both the programs and the films within them was a hit with the public,” he said.

“The calibre of films showcased continues to grow each year and we hope that the Victorian community will come along and enjoy the experience.”