The Wellington Fringe Film Festival celebrates its 20th birthday this year. Over the past two decades, the festival has screened more than 1,200 short films and provided a stepping stone for the likes of Robert Sarkies (Out of the Blue); Greg Page (The Locals) and Glenn Standring (Perfect Creature). The festival, which Sarkies rates as "the most important festival for emerging filmmakers in NZ", runs from 11-14 July.The Wellington Fringe Film Festival celebrates its 20th birthday this year. Over the past two decades, the festival has screened more than 1,200 short films and provided a stepping stone for the likes of Robert Sarkies (Out of the Blue); Greg Page (The Locals) and Glenn Standring (Perfect Creature). The festival, which Sarkies rates as "the most important festival for emerging filmmakers in NZ", runs from 11-14 July.The Short Film Festival comprises films of various genres - drama, animation, experimental and documentary. Among this year's entries is a film by acclaimed director Costa Botes (The Making of The Lord of the Rings; Forgotten Silver - with Peter Jackson) as well as How to Baa and Life After Death (pictured), both by Guy Capper and Jemaine Clement, who is one half of the comedy duo Flight of the Conchords and stars in the feature film Eagle vs Shark.

Directors are required to attend their film's screening, as feedback is provided from mentors and their peers through a question and answer period following each film.

This year's mentors include directors Robert Sarkies and Costa Botes and cinematographer Waka Attewell.

This highly interactive approach encourages a greater understanding of the filming process and the exchange of ideas creates an experience for a filmmaker that is unsurpassed at any other short film festival in New Zealand.

"It's a safe place to face constructive criticism and also acts as a very valuable networking resource," says director Greg Page.

"It's a crucial stepping-stone onto bigger international festivals," adds director Glenn Standring, "but also a first port of call where less experienced filmmakers can not only screen their work to audiences, but also begin to explore and discover their own voices before stepping out into the world."

This year's filmmaker workshops include "Meet the Funders" on Thursday 12 July with Linda Halle of Creative New Zealand and Juliette Veber from the New Zealand Film Commission, and "My Story" on Friday 13 July with Bevin Linkhorn from Gibson Group.

The Fringe Film Festival culminates in the Kodak Music Clip Awards - an annual awards ceremony that celebrates the craft of making music clips.

A special commemorative DVD, featuring 20 Fringe films from the past two decades, will be produced to mark this major milestone.