Shorts
This year's group of 51 shorts will be presented in 5 thematic programs, with a few additional shorts preceding features. These include short narratives featuring Chris Haywood, Emma Lung and Marcus Graham, a short written and directed by Gracie Otto, and an award-winning animation made by a former Dungog High student. These films represent the full spectrum of current Australian shorts, offering rare cinematic glimpses of Australian landscapes. From the sublime to narratives to gripping documentaries, this year's shorts explore a wide range of themes and diverse subject matter. All screenings are at the James Theatre, 6 Brown Street except When The Natives Get Restless, which will screen in Cinema 2, 100 Lord Street.
The films are listed in alphabetical order. Please note the times indicated are the start of the film's session.
| Advantage | Sat 9pm | |
 | After a night out, Cam and Libby visit a deserted tennis court to continue partying and to have fun. Suddenly the court lights come on and they are trapped in a nightmare. | |
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| Almost Aussie | Sat 9pm | |
 | Milan is an immigrant from former Yugoslavia. He holds on to memories. Australia is a very different land. Angry at life in general, his spirit seems crushed. What will the future hold? Can he become ‘almost Aussie’ after all? Scr / Dir / Prod: Lav Bodnaruk | 2007, 6 min | |
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| Bad Timing | Sat 9pm | |
 | This little two-hander packs a big punch. The tension of two men defusing a bomb is a dramatic metaphor for something unspoken between them. Close-ups build tension with masterful performances by CJ Fortuna and Justin Kennedy. Dir: James Teh | Scr / Prod: CJ Fortuna and Joe Villanti | 2007, 2 min | |
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| Brother Boys | Thu 6pm | |
 | Nathan and Dean are good mates. They spend their days fishing, rabbiting and dreaming of becoming wealthy professional rugby league players. The events of one weekend put their friendship in jeopardy as they are presented with different choices. The moving short will proceed Unfinished Sky on Opening Night. NSW Premiere Dir: Simon Blyth | Scr: Simon Blyth, Jessica Halloran | Prod: Monique de Groot | 2008, 13 min | |
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| Crocodile Dreaming | Sun 1pm | |
 | Crocodile Dreaming is a modern day supernatural myth about two estranged brothers. Burrimmilla, accepted as a fully-fledged member of his tribe, is obliged to fulfil the duties of ‘jungaiy’, a ceremonial role as caretaker of his mother’s dreaming: the crocodile totem. In contrast, Charlie, whose father is non-Indigenous, struggles to be accepted. This session includes a surprise new feature. Scr / Dir: Darlene Johnson | Prod: Sue Milliken | 2007, 27 min | |
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| Crossbow | Fri 11pm | |
 | A kid. His mum and dad. The sex and drugs. And the boy next door who watched the whole thing unravel. Scr / Dir: David Michôd | Prod: Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford | 2007, 14 min | |
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| Death’s Requiem | Sun 9am | |
 | This multi-award winning film confronts us with our deepest fears. Nathan Chapel is a terminally ill comic book artist who has an obsession with death and with the woman next door. As the subject of Nathan’s cartoons, the Grim Reaper himself seems to haunt him. Nathan must choose between life and death, love and redemption. Dir: Marc Furmie | Prod: Tim Maddocks | 2007, 30 min | |
| The Goat That Ate Time | Sun 6:30pm | |
 | A goat with an appetite for life realises that time is dangerously delicious. This dark animation told like a fable, takes a light-hearted stab at our time-obsessed society and insupportable rate of consumerism. Scr / Dir / Anim: Lucinda Schreiber | Prod: Ponymikado Films | EP: Deborah Szapiro | 2007, 8 min.
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| Henri | Fri 11pm | |
 | “My name is Henri Bouvois. I was born with very small hands...” Scr | Dir: Garth Davis | Prod: Karen Sproul | Creatives: Oliver Devaris, Graham Johnson | 2007, 4 min | |
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| Him | Fri 9am | |
 | from his wife. Black and white footage evokes a past age. But the message is timeless: the poignancy of the words, ‘ love you forever,’ when death is imminent. Scr / Dir: Stephan Mack | Prod: Julia Fitz | 2007, 4 min | |
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| Hotel Motel | Sat 9pm | |
 | Two on-the-run crims hole up in a lonesome Hotel Motel. Cut off from news about their robbery, their search for a television set brings them into contact with other residents of the sleazy hotel – people who are even more desperate than they are. | |
| The Hedge | Sun 1pm | |
 | ‘I thought I knew who I was? …Who am I?’ A young woman struggles with these existential concepts in a stunningly beautiful beachside setting. This lyrical reflection, in a stream of consciousness style, challenges us to consider the meaning of life. Scr / Dir: Michael Robinson | Prod: Elle Wilson and Andrew Neil | 2007, 8 min | |
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| Je Te Love | Sat 9pm | |
 | Misunderstandings and mischief ensue when a crude Aussie bloke teaches English to a delightful French-Canadian girl. They both want ‘love’ but will it be romance and commitment or raunchy sex? Dir: Richard Lacombe | Scr / Prod: Dave Wade | 2007, 10 min | |
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| Katoomba | Sun 9am | |
 | Despite the beauty of their surroundings, Annie and Mel are desperately unhappy living in the boring, sterile township of Katoomba. Since schooldays they have planned to leave and explore the world. As adults, their worlds are changing and so are their priorities. Newcomer Don sees Katoomba differently and his arrival will impact on the girls’ dreams. A poignant story, beautifully shot. Scr / Dir: Leon Ford | Prod: Melissa Johnston, Nicole O’Donohue | 2007, 30 min | |
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| Kindle | Fri 9am | |
 | Inside the world of a youth refuge a passion is kindled when Hayley, a troubled teenager, meets the new boy, Terrence, a secretive mysterious type. She discovers that where there’s smoke there’s fire. Erin White's Award-winning short Dugong premiere in Dungog in 2007. | |
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| Look Sharp | Fri 11pm | |
 | A gutsy female photographer is compelled to capture the truth beneath the rough exteriors of two Sharpie gang members... but to what lengths will she go in the name of art? Scr / Dir: Amy Gebhardt | Prod: Ben Commens | 2007, 9 min | |
| The Making Of... | Sat 9pm | |
 | The Making Of A Tropfest Film is about filmmaker Tim Maricic gives a humorous explanation of how he made Mon Balles Doulorex. This clever, tongue-in-cheek movie gives the a-z of advice on how to win awards. World Premiere Dir: Tim Maricic | Prod: Anthony Webb and Tim Maricic | 2007, 4 m | |
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| Meditations On A Name | Sun 1pm | |
 | Wattle hates her name; she is angry with her hippy dad for calling her that. On a long hot drive through a drought stricken landscape, they face their differences. A gently humorous exploration of a journey towards self-acceptance. Scr / Dir: Bonnie Elliott | Prod: Suzy Spoon, Genevieve Derwent | 2007, 9 min | |
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| My Last Ten Hours... | Sun 1pm | |
 | My Last Ten Hours With You is about Mark and Jeremy, lovers about to be parted. Jeremy grows increasingly tense as the time for departure approaches and plays little ‘jokes’ to try to forestall the event. His fear of loss is palpable, in contrast to his lover who is keen to embrace new experiences. Dir: Sophie Hyde | Scr: Matthew Cormack | Prod: Rebecca Summerton | 2007, 15 min | |
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| Nana | Fri 11pm | |
 | Nana’s granddaughter thinks Nana’s pretty special. She loves Nana because she helps the old people, she’s a good painter and other people love her too. Nana’s got everyone under control. A wickedly funny ripper from director Warwick Thornton. | |
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| Nine Miles Beautiful | Fri 9am | |
 | An older brother, released from gaol, returns home to confront his younger brother’s paraplegia; the result of a surfing accident. Their mother struggles to cope, distressed by her sons’ angry relationship with each other. Silas Palmer’s haunting music reflects the tension in the household. Scr / Dir: Marty Moynihan | Prod: Peter Blackburn, Graham Young | 2007, 15 min | |
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| No Regrets, No Remorse | Sat 9pm | |
 | Come and enjoy the talk at this rollicking Irish wake for wild Uncle Flynn who, in his time, had his way with lots of Irish colleens. Caught up in an unusual love triangle himself, his nephew Conor learns Flynn’s raison d’etre: life is about livin’ and lovin’. | |
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| Nuno | Fri 5pm | |
 | The relationship between fathers and sons is explored in this visually interesting film with close-ups providing a sense of intimacy. Nuno reflects on the meaning for him of his father’s death. What will he say when he visits his tomb? Is there anything to left to say? This film proceeds Global Haywire. World Premiere Scr / Dir: Erik Skanmyr | Prod: Matthew Roberts | 2007, 9 min | |
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| On The Other Ocean | Fri 11pm | |
 | You there. It’s late. Imagine yourself with the lid coming down. The hymns and requiems. The sense of movement as you’re borne along to the next place. | |
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| Outside In | Fri 9am | |
 | A woman returns to her husband and son after some time overseas. During her absence, the family has suffered bereavement and their grief is still palpable but this is not the only loss to be endured. A sensitive portrayal of a relationship affected by physical separation and emotional neediness. Scr / Dir: Samantha Rebillet | Prod: Donna Sennett | 2008, 15 min | |
| The Picnic | Sat 9pm | |
 | This picnic is no picnic for Lily when she is introduced to a new friendship group. Bronwyn is determined to exclude her and uses sarcasm and manipulation to get her way. A humorous depiction of group dynamics with a real sting in its tail. Scr / Dir: Belinda King | Prod: Craig Anderson | 2007, 6 min | |
| Professor Pebbles | Sun 1pm | |
 | Disillusioned antihero Professor Pebbles had hoped for a much more important role in hell than teaching basic evil to bored students. Tired of being taunted as a goody-goody, he decides to unleash some serious evil on annoyingly innocent humans. As Judgement Day is looming, the fate of the world rests with one demon. Soon nobody will ever laugh at him again. Beware: this clever animation satirises teachers and some religious groups. Scr / Dir / Anim: Pierce Davison | Prod: Jacob Fjord | 2007, 12 min | |
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| Punch | Sun 1pm | |
 | A broken man tries to escape his emotional pain by playing the clown that he feels he is. In Paris, a city of beauty and talented people, he cannot find an audience, although he deludes himself that he can. Caught in a world of loss and desperation, Punch searches for the happiness he once knew and hopes to gain again. Scr / Dir / Prod: Sotiris Dounoukos | 2007, 11 min | |
| Shit Happens | Sat 9m | |
 | Four mates draw straws to decide who will be a drug mule, and hapless Mick gets the job. But a human body doesn’t always co-operate in giving up its treasures, so desperate measures are needed to retrieve the drugs. This side-splitting comedy cleverly builds tension until its surprise ending. It’s enough to scare the shit outa ya! Dir / Prod / Scr: Joe Villanti | 2007, 12 min | |
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| Songs For Running Away | Fri 9am | |
 | Katie falls in love and plans to run away with her new lover. Is she running away from home or is her imagination running away with her? A poignant love story, beautifully filmed, that depicts a journey from romantic fantasy to suburban reality. Original music by Plug-in-city, Potential Falcon and Nick Lovell enhances the message that ‘love goes by so fast’. Scr / Dir: Jessica Leski | Prod: Caitlin Hall | 2008, 12 min | |
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| Songs In The Key... | Sat 9pm | |
 | How do you prepare for ‘a successful death’? This musical montage will delight you with its new take on the processes of grieving and dying. As terminally ill Alex prepares to ‘move out’ and ‘un-clutter his house’, you’ll be entertained by a variety of cinematic techniques and the catchy tunes of Aleks Bryant. Dir: Aleks Bryant | Prod: Matteo Bruno | 2007, 13 min | |
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| Spider | Fri 11pm | |
 | “It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.” – Mum Dir: Nash Edgerton | Scr: Nash Edgerton and David Michôd | Prod: Nicole O’Donohue | 2007, 9 min | |
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| Spiders | Fri 11am | |
 | At the Black Widow Motel, a romantic assignation is taking place. Males often place more importance on sexual satisfaction than on safety, and it is no different in the arachnid world. A delightful animation with a touch of black humour. This beatifully made short proceeds ALL MY FRIENDS ARE LEAVING BRISBANE. World Premiere Scr / Dir / Anim: Katy Lambourne | Prod: Angela Walsh | 2007, 3 min | |
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| Spike Up | Sat 9am | |
 | Winner of multiple awards, including AFI 2007 Best Short Fiction film, Spike Up is the powerful depiction of a hard night’s journey into day for Steve Barker, a veteran cop struggling to respect himself. Overlooked at work and ridiculed at home, he puts his hopes in his reunion with a former protégé, now a prominent undercover officer. Scr / Dir: Anthony Maras | Prod: Kent Smith | 2007, 30 min | |
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| Sweet & Sour | Fri 11pm | |
 | A bittersweet love affair between a dog and Chinatown. Scr / Dir: Eddie White | Prod: Sam White, Hugh Nguyen and Barry Plews | 2007, 17 min | |
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| Tango Trios | Fri 3pm | |
 | ‘What you leave out is as crucial as what you put in.’ (Quentin Tarantino). A young woman witnesses a lovers’ quarrel in a café. But how real is what she sees and how she interprets it? A clever short gives viewers an insight into how the way that a story is told impacts on them. Scr / Dir / Prod: Gracie Otto | 2007, 8 min | |
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| The Sky Is Always... | Fri 11pm | |
 | The monotony of life can be easily broken. But all choices have consequences. Fact: The Sky is Always Beautiful. Dir: Jeremy Cumpston | Scr / Prod: Jessica Brentnall | 2007, 13 min | |
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| Thimbles | Fri 9am | |
 | A woman prepares to sew herself an elegant gown, as she listens to post war music on the radio. Threatening noises and verbal violence from the next room shatter her peace and creativity. Her anxiety increases, and feeling violated, she seeks to protect herself with the only armour at hand. Diana Greentree gives a fine performance as the seamstress. Scr / Dir / Prod: Justin Olstein | 2007, 4 min | |
| Three Months At Sea | Sun 1pm | |
 | Former lovers Julian and Kathy collect a crate of his belongings: ‘his whole life’, and watch as it is unpacked by an officious customs officer. The highs and lows of their relationship are revealed in this clever script. We empathise with the couple as they are cast adrift in their sadness and disappointment. Sensitive performances by Damian Walshe-Howling and Kristen Hilton. Scr / Dir: Kylie Eddy | Prod: Vanessa Burt | 2007, 13 min | |
| Turtle | Sun 1pm | |
 | Young Jason comes from the city to stay with his Pop up north, and shows little interest in anything except computer games and rap music. Alienated from his family and his culture, he gets a new perspective when he encounters a turtle. Scr / Dir: Kelli Cross | Prod: Kath Shelper | 2007, 6 min | |
| Vertigo | Fri 9am | |
 | Vertigo: A confused or disorientated state of mind. How can someone be understood by others when they can’t understand themselves? Scr / Dir / Prod: Ashley White | 2007, 9 min | |
| Virtuam Freedom | Fri 9am | |
 | Part animation, part documentary, Virtual Freedom is an innovative portrayal of contemporary Burma via the internet as seen through the eyes of Burmese exile, animator, chef and political activist Maung Maung Aye. Dir: Gef Senz & Maung Maung Aye | 2007, 5 min | |
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| Waderra | Sat 3pm | |
 | An Aboriginal father and his son are confronted by the body of a suicide victim. The father is compelled to tell his son the history of the cliffs they are fishing from and the spirits that continue to roam there today. | |
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| Wake Up | Fri 9am | |
 | In solitary confinement, a young man journeys into madness. The lines between reality and hallucination are blurred by the sensory deprivation of long-term detention. Can he wake up from this nightmare? Is there any escape from the surreal images in his head? The film delivers an extraordinary analysis of the human mind under pressure. Scr / Dir /Prod: Dane Owen | 2007, 10 min | |
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| When The Natives... | Sat 1pm - Cinema 2 | |
 | When The Natives Get Restless is about the infamous Gordon Estate in Dubbo, the entire community has been given an eviction notice. Within three years, all their homes will be demolished. In this powerful documentary, the community speaks for the first time about the issues they face and about being black in a regional town like Dubbo. Dir: Albert Hartnett, Adrian Wills | Prod: Melissa Johnston | 2007, 28 min | |
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| Where The Magic Happens | Sat 9pm | |
 | How will computer games obsessed Ben survive for four days when his wife Monique is away? In this very funny mocumentary, the marital secrets of this young, suburban couple are revealed as Ben tells all. ‘I pity single people,’ he says. But does Monique feel the same way? Dir: Ben Rutherford | Producer: Chris Aarons | 2007, 7 min | |
| Wonderlust / Wonderkind | Fri 11pm | |
 | Three kids lost in wonderlust. Scr / Dir: Keri Light | Prod: Michael Cody | 2007, 6 min | |
| You Better Watch Out | Sat 9pm | |
 | “... ‘cause Santa Claus is coming tonight!” and disappointed children want their revenge on Santa. The film plays with the thriller genre as Santa is interrogated and tortured in confined, ominously lit sets. Have the avengers got the right man? Is Santa real or simply a commercial construct? This highly entertaining film has contemporary resonance in an age of terrorism and unjust incarceration. Scr / Dir: Steve Callen | Prod: Jules Callen | 2007, 22 min | |
| 67 | Fri 9am | |
 | A young woman struggles with an unusual and heavy burden, as she journeys into the night. Beautifully filmed, this short will have you thinking about it long afterwards. Scr / Dir: Kasimir Burgess | Prod: Julia Ciccarone | 2007, 4 min | |
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| 7:23 | Sun 1pm | |
 | A man feels a growing sense of discomfort as a woman falls asleep next to him on a commuter train. Does his awkwardness mirror tensions between cultures and sexes? Or is their brief relationship something more? We are left to ponder its significance. Dir: Brian Lien | Prod Manager: Caite Adamek | 2007, 6 min |