Children’s Book Week is a beloved Australian tradition that celebrates the joys of reading and this year Master of Arts Screen students will feature with the online and broadcast premiere of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. The short film – based on the enchanting story by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas – will premiere on ABC iView and broadcast, reaching audiences nationwide who can embrace this heartwarming story.
The film explores themes of memory loss, friendship and the enduring power of intergenerational relationships, told through the eyes of a 6-year-old, Wilfrid, who embarks on a quest to help his 96-year-old best friend, Nancy, recover her lost memories.
Produced as part of the Master of Arts Screen program in 2022, the film had its world premiere at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and its Australian premiere at the Flickerfest International Short Film Festival. The film has been awarded the ACS 2024 Student Cinematography Award of Distinction, NSW & ACT Gold Award for Best Student Cinematography, and the 2023 CGA Award for Best Casting of a Short Film.
Director Hattie Archibald reflected on the connection between the book, the crew and the film,
“This project has had so much magic and love poured into it, from every department. It was such a privilege working with such special source material. It’s a story that continues to resonate and we only hope we’ve been able to honour it in the way it deserves.
We each had a special connection with the book, and I think that shows in the film. The book is a national treasure, and our aim was to honour Mem and Julie’s story with every frame.”
Hattie has previously premiered the web series Gut Feeling with ABC iview, her final project for her Master of Arts Screen: Directing at AFTRS. The Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge team includes director Hattie Archibald, writer Jacob Melamed, producer Caleb Irwin, cinematographer Pete Moses, production and costume designer Roberto Manzini, editor Amy Dunn, composer Hamish Francis, sound supervisor Jason Boyd.
Reading is indeed magic, as this year’s Book Week theme highlights, so let’s celebrate the magical intersection of literature and screen by watching Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge on ABC iView, or on air on Sunday, August 18th at 5:05 pm on ABC Kids, with a repeat broadcast on Friday, August 23rd at 9:30 am on ABC Entertains.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
Writer – Jacob Melamed (Master of Arts Screen, 2022)
Director – Hattie Archibald (Master of Arts Screen, 2018)
Producer – Caleb Irwin (Master of Arts Screen, 2022)
Cinematographer – Pete Moses (Master of Arts Screen, 2022)
Production and Costume Designer – Roberto Manzini (Master of Arts Screen, 2022)
Editor – Amy Dunn (Master of Arts Screen, 2022)
1st AD – Peter Skinner (Master of Arts Screen, 2019)
Composer – Hamish Francis (Master of Arts Screen, 2022)
Sound Supervisor – Jason Boyd (Master of Arts Screen, 2022)
Stills Photographer – Monique Placko (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2024)
