AIFF19 Finalists
Australian Short Film
Cooee Directed by Toby Morris
Drinking, smoking and smashing their way through a family’s house, a group of girls come into contact with what is real and what is fake about themselves.
My Name is Mohamed and Raghad, We Don't Exist Here Anymore Directed by Ali Mousawi
Two asylum seeker children race home from school to care for their gravely ill father; as the bureaucratic world closes in around their family.
The True History of Billie the kid Directed by Leticia Caceres
Billie visits her ageing father in jail, revealing that her childhood in his care was not as safe and happy as he might have believed.
NORM Directed by Amanda Kaye
A man's fantasy about killing his overbearing wife sees him questioning the difference between imagination and reality.
Daily Bread Directed by Ruby Challenger
In an Indonesian WWII internment camp women and children face a daily struggle against abuse, disease and starvation as the Camp Commandant’s beloved white fluffy cat feasts on fresh juicy meat.
Konya Directed by Isaac Lindsay
Grace dreams about the past until an unexpected opportunity to seek solace and atonement for the mistakes of the past is presented – but only if she’s prepared to forgive and be forgiven.
Night Fill Directed by Joel Stephen Fleming
Phil must face his biggest fear after being left alone in a grocery store during his night shift.
FLIP Directed by Oliver Bailey & Oliver Crawford Smith
Flip is a juxtaposition of narratives which explore the themes of miscommunication, reminiscence and resolution.
International Short Film
Mosul 980 Directed by Ali Mohammed Saeed
A 17 year old Yazidi girl disguised in ISIS uniform tries to escape from ISIS. She finds no way to break free, but a military vehicle set with explosives.
On Air Directed by Bastiaan Rook
Brian, who got stuck in a rut, receives a call during his broadcast that doesn't turn into a pleasant conversation.
Oslo Directed by Ali Shady Srour
Ziad, a Palestinian day laborer, is denied entry into Israel for work that day. Not wanting to return home empty handed after promising his daughter meat for dinner, he needs to make some hard choices.
SOUND Directed by Tawan Bazemore
Photographer Isabelle Pisano becomes hearing-impaired after a violent car accident and she struggles to cope. In the muffled and scary new normal something beautifully-terrifying happens...
Smack Edd Directed by Ali GREG Hall
Heroin addict Edd unexpectedly turns up to his son Patrick’s eighth birthday celebration. Mum Fran and her new partner Mark must do everything to make sure he doesn’t ruin the party.
Evestronger Directed by silvia conesa
Will Marta and David, a couple politically committed and somewhat anti-capitalist, follow the "Evströnger" instructions to the letter? Or, on the contrary, will they escape from the diabolical capitalist loop that grips us all.
F*** Directed by Kiril Shmidov
A Millennial Man and a Millenial Woman attempt to have Millennial Sex.
Beyond Her Lens Directed by Tereza Hirsch
Inspired by the life and work of female conflict-zone photographer Jana Andert, Beyond Her Lens follows Alex's (portrayed by prominent Czech actress Lucie Vondrackova) return to Prague as she attempts to piece together a sense of normalcy after shooting footage in Mosul, Iraq.
DOCUMENTARY
Courage for the long haul Directed by Rani Brown
Community processes unite beyond political affiliation to help protect our life support systems on Earth within a movement of untold thousands.
GROUND RUSH Directed by Annabelle Meyer
Ground Rush follows Alex Miziuk, a young BASE jumper determined to live his life on (and over) the edge.
Stuart X Directed by Thibault Upton
After 40 years in psychiatric hospitals at 60 Stuart was correctly diagnosed with Fragile X. He now has a set of processes and care that provide him with an entirely different quality of life.
Shangri La Directed by Carlo Christian Spano
After reading the fantasy novel “Lost Horizon”, a Beijing white-collar Chinese worker begins an extraordinary journey with a backpack to find his “Shangri-La”.
Stuck on a Rock Directed by Asher Flatt
Ball's Pyramid is the tallest sea stack in the world, a monolithic rock jutting from the Pacific Ocean and the sight of one of the most remarkable rediscoveries of the 21st century.
Wanasika - an awakaning of indiginous knowledge Directed by Florence Allen, Rose Bird, Willie Ermine, Preston Gardypie, Gilbert Kewistep, Mary Lee & MArgaret Reynolds
From the fields and forests of First Nations lands across Saskatchewan, a group of Elders address the importance of Indigenous knowledge.
Carving the Divine Directed by Yujiro Seki
A rare look into the life and artistic process of Busshi – practitioners of a 1400 year lineage of woodcarving that’s at the heart of Japanese, Mahayana Buddhism.
The Man of the Trees Directed bY Andrea Trivero
Daniel, who survived polio as a child, decided he could take two paths: begging or taking my life in hand and devoting himself to work with dignity. Now, a senior horticulturist, his story is truly inspirational.
FEATURE FILM
Campessino Directed by Mia Tata
An amateur photographer, who works as a skycap at Salt Lake City Airport, documents for the last 15 years the disappearing way of life of Cuba’s Campesino farmers, forging friendships and capturing dignity and sacrifice while introducing us to an unforgettable cast of characters.
Range Runners Directed by Philip Plowden
A woman thru-hiking an isolated trail runs into trouble when her pack is hijacked by two men hiding out in the woods, desperate and on the run. Now, stranded she has a choice: crawl back to her normal life in defeat, or push forward and take back what was stolen from her.
Locked Alone Directed by Yung-Jen Yang
Catherine in a new apartment starts to feel a strange entrapping presence. Will she leave her apartment alive?
That Disappearance Directed by Hiro Kano
That which he lost - was it that which had already past, or that which was to come?
The Duckpond Directed by Robert Andersson
Fredrik's peaceful life in an idyllic small town is turned upside down when his old childhood friend Patrik is released from prison. Together with Birger, the third member of their old trio, they manage to get lost in a spiral of chaos involving a vindictive policeman, a few grams of weed and a gang of Danish robbers.
EXPERIMENTAL
PUB_TALK Directed by Jake Taylor
A young man with down syndrome seeks connection at his local pub, but it's another night of feeling like no one understands him.
Triskelion Directed by Stuart T Birchall
Three realities spiral as a woman sacrifices everything attempting to escape the labyrinth, fighting to become the master of her consciousness.
Cuban Queens Directed by Warren Bass
An exploration of ninety-nine evolving images of Havana's street divas through rhythmic construction and de-construction.
Kopacabana Directed by Marcos Bonisson & Khalil Charif
Set in the neighbourhood of Copacabana, elaborated through a collage of current and archive images.
Animation
The Chicken Dinner Show Directed by Nicholas James Leo
Chicken Dinner hosts his own TV show which features special guests who this week discuss their opinions of Donald Trump.
MIX Directed by Kotoko Nakamura
A “lie” hidden within a happy-looking family. For what, for whom is this secret kept?
EXT Directed by Adrian Bobb
A humanoid war machine, leads a team of five robot-bound digital-humans into the real world.
Screenplays
Luana Written by Danielle Erlich
After her parents are murdered, the last dragon whisper — a 16 yr old grieving teenager named Luana — goes on an epic quest to avenge their deaths and rescue her village from blood-thirsty banshees.
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Little Things Mean a Lot Written by Michael Monteith
The true story of Kitty Kallen, including her rise from humble origins to most popular U.S. singer, is revealed amid news of her untimely death.
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Bully Written by Joshua Cohen
Vivian “Bully” Bullwinkel, Australia's most decorated War Nurse, is bombed, strafed, drowned, shot in the back at the infamous Radji Beach massacre, and left for dead in the water, but then must endure years in a POW camp, all keeping what she witnessed secret, and all barefoot.
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LADY OF THE AIR Written by Sterling Brown
In 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first American female pilot. In 1912, she was the first female to fly over the English Channel. Knowing airplanes were dangerous, she wanted one more record flight...then she'd quit.
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The Greek Passage Written by Lorenzo Guarnieri
Giulio Seta’s final mission in Iraqi as a war photojournalist ended dramatically. Now in therapy for PTSD, Giulio decides to travel to a remote Greek island to ultimately face his demons.
WILD CARDS
Soldier of Comedy
Directed by Duke Howard
Comedian Tommy Bissett appears to value comedy above all else - though a devastating methamphetamine addiction might change all that.
Larry Time
Directed by Daniel Krige
When buying chocolates and flowers for grandma just isn't enough...
Hot dog
Directed by t.j. Yoshizaki
In the crime capital of the world, an LAPD officer was having a just another bad day... or not.
Chairs
Directed by Avner Pinchover
A man hurls chairs at a wall in what seems to be a holy-rage attack.
A Sweet Man
Directed by Javier Chavanel
For the sorrowful Gustavo, it was an ordinary night: an uninspiring, silent night. But suddenly, fun knocked on this door… and it wouldn't leave until it had run its course.
NameLess Directed by Luca Nistler
A child-robot talks about her dream to her mother. A dream taking place within a dark theatre.