AFTRS Festival Favourites, a new program of acclaimed short films made by AFTRS students has launched today on ABC iview as part of its summer program.
Each of the eight short films have made recent appearances at film festivals the world over – from the Wairoa Māori Film Festival in New Zealand to Melbourne International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest in the USA, Uppsala International Short Film Festival in Sweden, ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Canada, and many more.
Collectively, the films have received 60 official festival invitations and several nominations and awards, including Best Directing for This River at Flickerfest International Film Festival, the Youth Jury Award for Best Short Film at San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Festival for The Familiars and Best Short Film at St Kilda Film Festival for Lost Boy. This award makes Lost Boy eligible for the 2022 Academy Awards short list.
AFTRS first partnered with ABC iview in 2017 on a collection dedicated to presenting new work from emerging filmmakers as well as showcasing classic films from notable AFTRS alumni including student films from Jane Campion, Gillian Armstrong, Ivan Sen, Catriona McKenzie, Cate Shortland, Shannon Murphy and many more.
“Since the launch of the collection it has received more than half a million views, establishing it as a popular and influential platform for Australians to discover our newest screen storytellers. The teams responsible for these eight short films will also now have the opportunity to showcase their creative brilliance to ABC iview audiences,” said AFTRS CEO, Dr Nell Greenwood.
Roberta Allan, ABC Head of Content Curation & Distribution, said, “The ABC is proud to support emerging filmmakers as part of our commitment to Australian creativity. The ABC iview collection of short films by AFTRS students showcases some of our best new talent and will give all Australians something great to watch over summer. The future of the Australian film industry is bright and the ABC is delighted to help bring such outstanding new homegrown stories to audiences.”
The eight selected films are:
Bala, directed by Deborah Brown and written by Melissa Lee Speyer, both Master of Arts Screen students. Bala has been selected for multiple festivals, including Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival, Ontario, Canada (2020), ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Toronto, Canada (2020), Flickerfest International Film Festival (2021), Birrarangga Film Festival, ACMI (2021), Manchester Film Festival, UK (2021), Gold Coast Film Festival (2021), Wairoa Māori Film Festival, New Zealand (2021), Brisbane International Film Festival (2021).
Elagabalus, winner of the Juror’s Choice Award at the 2021 Berlin Student Film Festival, Germany, was directed by Xanthe Dobbie, written by Samuel Herriman and produced by Alexis Talbot-Smith, all Master of Arts Screen students. The film’s other festival selections include CinefestOz Film Festival, WA (2020), Newfest: New York’s LGBTQ Film Festival (2020), Uppsala International Short Film Festival, Sweden (2020), FilmschoolFest Munich, Germany (2020), Image+Nation Festival Film LGBTQUEER, Montreal (2020), Queer Film Festival, Gold Coast (2020), St Kilda Film Festival (2021) and KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, India (2021).
The End, The Beginning, winner of the AVID Award for Best Original Music in an Australian Short Film at Flickerfest International Film Festival (2021), was directed by Archie Chew, written by Samuel Herriman and produced by Alicia Easaw-Mamutil, all Master of Arts Screen students. The film was also selected for Uppsala International Short Film Festival, Sweden (2019), Berlin Student Film Festival (2021), Flickerfest International Film Festival (2021), Providence Children’s Film Festival, Rhode Island (2021), BUFF Malmo Film Festival, Sweden (2021), Flickers Roving Eye International Film Festival, Rhode Island (2021), St Kilda Film Festival (2021) and Boston International Kids Film Festival (2021).
Like How I Remember was written and directed by Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production student Brittany Xu and produced by her classmates Mimi Rosenbaum and Claire Ma. The film has been selected for the Asian Film Festival, Los Angeles (2020), Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (2020) and the Gold Coast Film Festival (2021).
Lost Boy was nominated for Best Direction in a Student Film at the 2020 Australian Directors’ Guild Awards (2020) and won the Best Short Film award at St Kilda Film Festival (2021). Lost Boy was written and directed by Peter Skinner (Master of Arts Screen) and produced by Susannah Wolff and David Shyegun, both Graduate Certificate Screen (Creative Producing) graduates. The film was also selected for Brisbane International Film Festival (2020) and the Newport Beach Film Festival, California (2021).
Sunburn was directed by Jaslyn Mairs, written by Claudia Bailey and produced by Lev Jutsen and Ben Bauchet while studying the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production. The film has been selected to screen at CinefestOz Film Festival, WA (2020), Brisbane International Film Festival (2020), Berlin Student Film Festival (2021), Flickerfest International Film Festival (2021), Gold Coast Film Festival (2021), Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival (2021) and Melbourne International Film Festival (2021).
The Familiars won the Youth Jury Award for Best Short Film at the San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Festival (2020) and the Best Australian Short Film and Best Performance in an Australian Short Film (Milly Alcock) at A Night of Horror International Film Festival (2021). The film was also nominated for Best Achievement in Sound Post-Production and Best Young Actor at St Kilda Film Festival (2021). The Familiars was directed by Millicent Malcolm (Graduate Certificate, Directing), written by Octavia B. Martin (Grade Certificate Screen, Screenwriting) and produced by Alexis Talbot-Smith (Master of Arts Screen). The film’s other festival selections include Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival (2020), Maniatic Film Festival, Valencia (2020), Telluride Horror Show (2020), Flickerfest International Film Festival (2021), HorrorHound Film Festival, Ohio (2021), IMAGINE Film Festival, Amsterdam (2021), Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Indianapolis (2021), Fantastic Fest, Austin (2021) and Canberra Short Film Festival (2021).
This River, written, directed and produced by Master of Arts Screen student Naomi Fryer won the Spectrum Films Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film at the Flickerfest International Film Festival (2021) and the Best Student Film and Best Cinematographer prizes at WIFT V-Fest (2021). The film has also been selected for Cinequest Film Festival, San Jose (2021), St Kilda Film Festival (2021), Montreal Independent Film Festival (2021), Canberra Short Film Festival (2021) and Female Voices Rock Film Festival, New York, USA (2021).
Watch AFTRS Festival Favourites on ABC iview.
MORE ABOUT THE FILMS:
Bala
(Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Synopsis
In this poetic short, a former navy officer reunites with his cousins to grieve after learning of his much-loved grandfathers’ death, soon after the break-up of a relationship. Feeling alone he questions his significance, the call of the ocean is strong.
Key Credits
Director: Deborah Brown (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Writer: Melissa Lee Speyer (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Producer: Georgia Noe O’Brien
Cinematographer: Meg White
Production designer: Emma Rose White
Editor: Anthony Watson
Composer: Steve Francis
Sound designer: Oliver Brighton (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017)
Elagabalus
(Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Synopsis
Burdened by a prophecy that dooms them to a violent death, Elagabalus, a genderqueer Roman Emperor, embraces excess. Much to the dismay of their controlling mother, Elagabalus is enamoured by a dashing charioteer. But as Elagabalus’ habits grow increasingly sadistic, mother and lover must band together to fulfil destiny.
Key Credits
Director: Xanthe Dobbie (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Writer: Samuel Herriman (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Producer: Alexis Talbot-Smith (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Cinematographer: Sidat de Silva (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Production designers: Lilly Bennet (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017), Max Boutwell Draper (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017)
Editor: Xanthe Dobbie (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Composer: Jorde Heys (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Sound designer: Rowan Yeomans (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2018)
The End, The Beginning
(Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Synopsis
In the picture-book town of Collector, a young girl and her gang of rogue environmentalists are trying to save the planet as the world goes into lock down. The main target of their rebellion… the girl’s very own father.
Key Credits
Director: Archie Chew (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Writer: Samuel Herriman (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Producer: Alicia Easaw-Mamutil (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Cinematographer: Nick Najdov (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Production design & animation: Courtney Westbrook, Ara Nuri Steel
Editor: Xanthe Dobbie (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Composer: Jorde Heys (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Sound designer: Nathan Turnbull (Master of Arts Screen, 2020)
Like How I Remember
(Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Synopsis
Like How I Remember centres around a young boy, Lee, and his mother, Mama, who go to temple on the anniversary of their father’s passing.
Key Credits
Director/writer: Brittany Xu (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Producers: Mimi Rosenbaum (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019), Claire Ma (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Cinematographer: Serena Siow (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Production designer: Aileen Fang (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Editor: Courtney Mallon (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2020)
Original music: Hanna Holford
Sound designer: Rowan Yeomans (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2018)
Lost Boy
(Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Synopsis
When a volatile young bartender shows up to work with a fresh black eye, he’s challenged by his boss to drop his macho persona.
Key Credits
Director/writer: Peter Skinner (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Producer: Susannah Wolff (Graduate Certificate Screen (Creative Producing, 2018), David Shyegun (Graduate Certificate Screen (Creative Producing), 2017)
Cinematographer: Calum Riddell (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Production designer: Michael Price (Graduate Diploma in Production, 2012)
Editor: Jarrod Young (Graduate Certificate (Editing), 2018), Peter Skinner (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Composer: Trent Grenel
Sunburn
(Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Synopsis
In the wake of a tragedy, Charlie takes her best friend Em on a road trip in the hope it will help them heal. Along the way they find their friendship is tested like never before.
Key Credits
Director: Jaslyn Mairs (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Writer: Claudia Bailey (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Producers: Ben Bauchet (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019), Lev Jutsen (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2018)
Cinematographer: Gabriel Morrison (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Production designer: Sidonie Pitot (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2019)
Editor: Angus Roche (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2018)
Sound designers: Aidan Jessup (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2018), Eli Potter (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2020)
The Familiars
(Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Synopsis
When a sceptical teenage girl inherits a mysterious heirloom, she must decide whether to use it to protect herself from her destructive Mother.
Key Credits
Director: Millicent Malcolm (Graduate Certificate (Directing), 2018)
Writer: Octavia B. Martin (Graduate Certificate Screen (Screenwriting), 2018)
Producer: Alexis Talbot-Smith (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Cinematographer: Calum Riddell (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Production designers: Lily Bennett (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017), Max Boutwell Draper (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017)
Editor: Xanthe Dobbie (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Composer: Jorde Heys (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Sound designer: Stuart Melvey (Master of Arts Screen, 2018)
This River
(Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Synopsis
During an Australian 1990’s summer, Jacquie celebrates graduating high school with her friends and family. But when a boy she likes breaks her trust at a party it shatters her sense of self. As Jacquie begins her process of healing she connects with loved ones and nature finding the strength to move on.
Key Credits
Director/writer: Naomi Fryer (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Producers: Naomi Fryer (Master of Arts Screen, 2019), Katherine Shearer
Cinematographer: Ehran Edwards (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Production designer: Jess Wheatley
Editor: James A. Thomas (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Composer: Jenna Pratt (Graduate Certificate (Music), 2018)
Sound designer: Lana Kristensen (Graduate Diploma (Sound), 2014)
