A word from our Patron, Mr Matt Price

I am genuinely honoured - and slightly confused - at being named patron of this year's Over the Fence comedy film festival.

Honoured, because asking a Canberra press gallery journalist to bestow his blessing on an organisation is, let's face it, dodgy. A bit like naming Mark Vaile as your "Phone a Friend'' choice on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Confused because practically all of the films I see conspire to see turn out to be laughable - for all the wrong reasons.

Comfortably the funniest movie I've seen in years was Eyes Wide Shut, but for some curious, inexplicable reason it's stored in the Drama section of your local video store.

Spookily, most alleged comedies strike me as stupendously unfunny. Admittedly, your patron casts a tres sophisticated eye over the genre - Animal House remains the template, although the erection jokes in Anchorman come close.

But, honestly, did any of you anorak-wearing, Doc Marten-treading film festival mob have any clue about what was going on in I Love Huckabees? Or Bewitched? Or Young Einstein? These, and most other attempted comedies, strike me as truly, madly, deeply tragic.

Admittedly, your patron is spoiled for choice.  I have privileged access, after all, to a vast well of reliable slapstick, farce, satire, whimsy, buffoonery, tomfoolery and gut-busting idiocy. It's called Question Time.

Which makes what you're all doing - making and/or watching these films - all the more admirable.

Being funny deliberately is no laughing matter. Projecting that humour on film in Australia - ergo, against Olympian odds and on a frayed shoestring budget - strikes me as downright heroic.

My inkling is most of this year's Over The Fence films will evoke something between a wry grin and a belly chuckle. There's a mix of subtlety, wit, irreverence, quirkiness, clever writing and deft photography.

Though not, I fear, anywhere near enough fart jokes for your patron's liking.

Enjoy the festival,

Matt Price