Next Gen Shorts

A room full of potential stars. But these ones have fur. Filming Dogs follows a small scruffy terrier called Ra as she attends an animal actor audition with three other dog actors. Ra is thirteen years old and is running out of time to realise the fame her human, the filmmaker, thinks she deserves. At its core, Filming Dogs explores the reasons for their humans seeking on-screen fame for their dogs and questions whether it is for us, for them, or for some other reason.

Australia, 2023, 10 minutes
English
Director: Peta Hitchens
Writer: Peta Hitchens
Producers: Madeleine Martiniello, Shannon Owen

Concrete Denizens is a short documentary that explores the inclusive skateboard scene developing in Brisbane. It's a discussion of what skateboarding brings to individuals and their community. The documentary features interviews with female skateboarders from the We Skate QLD community group, a crew dedicated to diversifying South East Queensland’s skateboarding community. Featuring music from local Brisbane bands, this documentary is a celebration of art, sport and a community built on concrete.

Australia, 2022, 11 minutes
English
Director: Jessica Sherlock
Producer: Jessica Sherlock

K is sick to death of their roommate – a roommate who happens to be a ghost. One exhausting day, K gets overwhelmed when the ghost goes a little too far with the supernatural pranks. They use what they learned in night class on exorcisms… and must cope with the aftermath.

Aotearoa NZ, 2022, 12 minutes
English
Writer: Libby Witheford-Smith
Director: Michiel van Echten
Producers: Max Perkinson, Mark Jackson, Corey Le Vaillant

Surrounded by gibberish in a foreign schoolyard, Hina, a new immigrant, attempts to charm her way into friendships using an omamori (Japanese amulet) and broken English phrases. After one disastrous introduction, she retreats to her confidant Holly, a self-righteous sheep residing at a local petting farm, who teaches Hina English through wild imagination. But a human-sheep relationship can only last so long and when Holly cuts her ties, Hina must now fill the Holly-shaped void with a real human friend.

Australia, 2022, 11 minutes
English, Japanese
Director: Kaede Miyamura
Writer: Kaede Miyamura
Producer: Evangeline Parks

‘She; who lives’ is a short participatory documentary exploring the hopes and fears of migrant mothers. Set in a day, the filmmaker is out on a journey on the local train to encounter other migrant mothers like herself. As they interacted, the memories of their formative moments began to unwind. The interactions grew into meaningful conversations sharing the layers of excitement, fear, courage, and the sense of responsibility that are attached to motherhood and migration. Struggling with the inner conflict of migration, the question is whether she, the filmmaker, ever feels proud of herself.

Australia, 2022, 10 minutes
English, Urdu
Director: Ayesha Farooq
Writer: Ayesha Farooq
Producer: Tace Stevens

A documentary style interview with 35 year old transgender model, activist and public figure Rora Mac. It explores the challenge of being a transgender person in today’s society, her struggles going through life, what she had to conquer to get to where she is now.

Australia, 2022, 5 minutes
English
Director: Samantha Chim
Writer: Samantha Chim
Producer: Samantha Chim

At a small dinner party, a young woman listens to her boyfriend tell her go-to party story as if it’s his own. She’ll go to great lengths to ensure the truth comes out.

Australia/US, 2023, 7 minutes
English
Director: Yael Grunseit
Writer: Cassie Grimaldi

Raj Sharma and Thao Luong are two first-generation Australians who cross paths at the annual badminton competition. As they play out an intense battle, their hardship and journey to this path are revealed, asking the question, what will win: passion or desperation? For Raj winning this competition means convincing his mother of his worth in the world of badminton. For Thao, it’s all about the prize money that will help save his mother’s life.

Australia, 2022, 12 minutes
English, Hindi, Vietnamese
Director: Alisha Mehra
Writer: Lela Turner
Producer: Alisha Mehra

CW: themes - termination of pregnancy

Katerina is an artist living on Earth who choose to terminate her unplanned pregnancy. In another world we meet Sloane, a consciousness awaiting in the Cosmos for their flight to Earth and to meet their assigned host Katerina. Sloane’s journey to Earth is shortly delayed but this isn’t the end to their story

Australia, 2022, 11 minutes
English
Director: Eleni Modinos
Writer: Eleni Modinos
Producers: Eleni Modinos, Marcus Hollands

When customers leave 218 Gertrude Street, they’re not always the person they were when they walked in. Since 1979, Rose Chong Costumiers have been dealing in elaborate and vibrant maximalist attire for hire. In 40 years, it has established itself as an iconic and legendary Melbourne staple amongst the Inner-North’s queer scene. Rose and her staff oversee the transformation of their patrons for a vast array of events, and in doing so transform more than just their clients’ outfits. The community of Rose Chong Costumiers hold ideas of the body as a celebration, queer identity, and play, all over the course of the store’s opening hours. How to Dress Like Me is a short documentary that contends with the intersections of play, queerness, and clothes.

Australia, 2023, 5 minutes
English
Directors: Juanita Ebbs, Aaron Alvarez
Writers: Juanita Ebbs, Aaron Alvarez

A short dramedy that explores the absurd hell of being the middle-woman between two countries, cultures, social class and lingual politics.

Australia, 2022, 7 minutes
English, Tagalog
Director: Theresa Angela
Writer: Theresa Angela