by FIlmInk Staff
“And now for something completely different,” as Monty Python would say! Short film Then It Rained is coming to the Sunshine Coast, with production slated for May 2026. This is the second production from Queensland company, White Bonnet Films and will be directed by Mirko Grillini with Amy Raffe as the executive producer. With the incredible support of the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, this psychological drama aims to take the international film festival circuit by storm.
Then It Rained follows the story of Bianca (Amy Raffe – A Series of Unfortunate Dates, The Organist) and Darcy (Elliott Giarola – Carmen & Bolude, Last King of the Cross) as they navigate the end of their relationship 10 months on.
Earlier this year, White Bonnet Fillms’ first project, A Series of Unfortunate Dates won the AACTA Award for Best Online Comedy or Drama. Where Unfortunate Dates was a 6-part micro comedy, shot vertically for TikTok, Then It Rained gives creator Amy Raffe an opportunity to explore a vastly different genre and style.
Raffe, who was the writer, producer and lead actor for both projects, says that where Unfortunate Dates allowed her to show off her personality and comfort within the comedy genre, this exploration into a darker, grittier role is a welcome challenge. It is also exciting to get back to more traditional filmmaking and create something cinematic, made to be viewed at festival screenings rather than just a mobile phone.
As well as the change of genre, Raffe is incredibly excited for the collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective! She says, “We are very grateful to director, Mirko Grillini, for the introduction. His previous works with the Screen Collective and APAC have showed the advantages of their wealth of experience and variety of talent attached”. A resident of the Gold Coast, Raffe can’t wait to explore the Sunshine Coast and discover all it has to offer as filming locations and backdrops!
The success of their first series has enabled Raffe and White Bonnet Films to expand in production value for this next project; even flying in the very talented Elliott Giarola from Sydney to co-star. The production will also employ local Sunshine Coast creatives and companies; such as Aesop Media, The Art of Makeup Society and Amanda Jane Art. Almost the entire crew is made up of Sunshine Coast residents, a lot of them also members of the Screen Collective.
President of the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, David Edgar and committee member Liz Boyd have been particularly supportive in preliminary discussions with director Mirko Grillini (also a local!). Grillini said, ‘it is such a pleasure for me to work on such a beautiful story. I’m a big believer in what the Sunshine Coast has to offer and I know it will fit in perfectly in Amy’s film. Working with professional and dedicated artists such as Amy and Elliott, makes my whole journey in this film very exciting. This is my fourth production filmed and post-produced up here, I’m delighted with the level of dedication and cooperation of the filmmaking community and the efforts of the Screen Collective are putting in place to educate, grow and expand the film and TV industry on the Sunshine Coast.”
Rehearsals for this film have already begun, as has the set dressing inside a beautiful Woombye home. Coincidentally, the home is on the backlot of the new studios coming to the Sunshine Coast, run by the Screen Collective! Cast and crew preparations are ramping up, and the team can’t wait to share this powerful short film (and the Sunny Coast) with the world and hopefully encourage further productions to choose the Sunshine Coast as their desired location.
