The unlikely setting of Hornsby train station was the venue for a fortuitous meeting for the 17-year-old Aden Young, where he spied Hugo Weaving.

"I introduced myself and said, 'One day I hope to work with you'," he says.

Fast forward almost 20 years later and Young has enlisted his old chum Weaving to narrate his short film, The Rose Of Ba Ziz. The pair have now worked together several times.

"It's just a wonder to have somebody as talented as that be a good friend," he says. "That's somebody the industry should really listen to as he's got extraordinary experience in projects with great integrity."

Young has been in the business long enough to know about the integrity-sapping perils of the film industry. He first came to screens in Bruce Beresford's Black Robe in 1991. He has since had various Australian and international roles, most recently in TV mini-series The Starter Wife with Debra Messing.

The Rose of Ba Ziz is one of 16 films selected for the touring St Kilda Film Festival. Written by Young's father, Chip, the movie is an adaptation of a children's story, about a king who sacrifices his realm after his flower allergy means either he or the blooms must go. The touching story is filmed in the fashion of a silent movie and features a series of snapshots and images, reminiscent of a recollection of childhood memories.

Other films featured in the festival include Brendan Cowell's drama Black Lassie, Gracie Otto's comedy La Meme Nuit and Car Pool, starring Kerry Armstrong.

Young says if the film industry had funding akin to that which goes towards sports we would have a "phenomenal" industry that could highlight Australia's appeal internationally.

"I just don't think the thinking in politicians and the Treasury is smart enough to think that we can use these things as postcards. We can use these films as invitations to the extraordinarily diverse culture that we have here."

ST KILDA FILM FESTIVAL 2007

Tonight at 7, Saturday, 7 and 9pm Chauvel, Paddington, $15.50 a session, $40 for a festival pass.