The new short film Ashes, will be having its World Premiere at the Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles’ famous TCL Chinese Theatre between June 22nd till July 2nd.
Bereft after the loss of her beloved Dad James, Frances misses the appointment to pick up his ashes. Through a bizarre posthumous prank, can James rectify his daughter’s habitual lateness, even after he’s gone?
Ashes is a darkly comedic story about grief, tough love and the unexpected ways those who have passed continue to influence us.
The film is a comedy drama directed and written by Georgina Haig. Haig also stars in the lead role of Frances, with Australia’s favourite Michael Caton (The Castle, Packed to the Rafters) playing her father James and Michala Banas (Upper Middle Bogan, McLeod’s Daughters) playing quirky funeral home director Tanya.
Haig said of the news: “My debut film premiering at the historic Chinese Theatre is incredibly exciting. I have been blown away by how supportive the community around the Dances with Films festival has been for indie filmmakers.”
Dances with Films is a LA Based film festival that has been running since 1998 having grown from presenting a handful of films to more than 200 each year…from Narrative Features and shorts to include the top Documentaries, Music Videos, TV & Web on the circuit today. In 2012 the festival moved to its current location – the famed Chinese Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. From there it has expanded to 11 days with ever increasing sold out theatres. 2023 will be the 26th year of the festival, which now also runs a New York edition.
A graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Georgina Haig is known for film credits such as The Mule, The Sapphires, Wasted on the Young, Where we Disappear, Road Train, Crawl and the upcoming SXSW smash hit Late Night with the Devil. Some of her television credits include Netflix’s Archive 81, Once Upon a Time, Fringe, A Moody Christmas, Secret Bridesmaid’s Business, Snowpiercer, Back to the Rafters, The Crossing and INXS Never Tear us Apart.
Ashes marks Georgina’s first directorial outing.
Haig said about making the story and its inspiration: “Dad, bless him, was the most punctual person I knew. So when he passed away last year (2022) and I completely missed the appointment to pick up his ashes, I was devastated on some complicated levels. But crucially I also thought – “How ironic. Why did I do that?” I decided the only way to rectify my final heartbreaking failure to him was to make a movie about it. This story is about transformation and change ignited by an emotional slap in the face. What does it really take to break a habit, to create a lasting shift in your character? I wanted this story to be raw, truthful, funny, strange and visually striking. To capture a specific moment in the weird, emotionally ragged post death process.”
Haig’s filmmaker father Russell Haig (alas Hagg) was known in the Australian Film and TV industry as a script editor on Blue Heelers, Matlock Police, The Cup and wrote the original screenplay for BMX Bandits. In the international Film and TV industry, he worked in the art department on Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Dirty Dozen, Loot, Catch me a Spy, and served as art director on Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange.
Ashes is produced by Georgina Haig, Dean Francis, Daisy Betts Miller, Charmaine Kuhn, with Riley Sugars acting as Associate Producer. Dean Francis also serves as Director of Photography, with Ben Joss serving as editor and Matt Blackman composing the score.
The film is yet to have an Australian Premiere but you can keep up to date on the production by following the social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook here and the website www.ashesshortfilm.com.
