by FilmInk Staff
The queer horror comedy Die Bully Die has earned a Best Short Film nomination at the AACTA Awards, a milestone that comes during a national reckoning with the impact of school bullying.
Die Bully Die stands out as a queer genre piece among the six nominees being a deeply personal story for co-writer, producer and actor, Matthew Backer, who drew from his experience of being bullied for being gay at his all-boys, Catholic high-school in Brisbane during the late ’90s and early 2000s.
The film depicts a high-school bully and his victim catching up years later in a fancy restaurant where the victim’s grudge against his former bully begins to manifest in darkly comedic and horrific ways.
“It’s not only an exploration of how homophobic bullying affected my youth and adulthood, but also an exploration of how people in general overcome any type of trauma. I think that’s why such varied audiences worldwide are relating to it,” Backer said.
“Whilst an AACTA Award nomination is bloody brilliant, the fact our film is screening around the world and delivering such a strong anti-bullying message to audiences is what I’m most proud of.”
That message feels timely amid national headlines on the devastating impact of school bullying, which recently led Australia’s Parliament to ban social media for anyone under 16—a bold step to combat cyberbullying. Backer fully supports the move.
“When I was being bullied, it ended at the school gates,” he said. “Today, cyberbullying happens 24/7 and that absolutely needs to be stopped. School bullying warps your sense of self at such a delicate age and our film highlights that damage whilst also showing that there is always hope.”
Die Bully Die’s AACTA Awards nomination is the latest accolade in a year of international triumphs. The film has screened at 14 film festivals worldwide, including Screamfest in Hollywood and Iris Prize in the UK, and has won multiple awards, including Best Short Film at Sydney Film Festival and Catchlight Film Festival, and Audience Choice Awards at Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Florida’s OUTshine Film Festival, and Atlanta’s Out On Film.
Directed and produced by brothers Nathan and Nick Lacey, and written and produced by Matthew Backer and Drew Weston, alongside producer Nicole Thorn, Die Bully Die blends razor-sharp humour, biting social commentary, and moments of gasp-inducing horror.
“Guiding Die Bully Die to the screen has been an amazing journey,” Thorn said. “What makes it so special is seeing how it comes alive in front of an audience—whether on the big screen or small, the energy it brings to the room is tangible. That magic is something I’m incredibly proud to have helped create.”
Die Bully Die’s success has also shone a spotlight on queer voices in Australian cinema and the nomination is a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation. Weston said that he and Backer wanted to write something “unapologetically queer, entertaining, and meaningful”.
“Such a nomination proves that stories centering queer experiences can resonate with mainstream audiences and industry professionals alike.”
Directors Nathan and Nick Lacey said they were both “thrilled that this queer comedy horror has struck a chord with audiences”.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in the making of this film and the importance of continuing the conversation around the impact of bullying,” Nathan Lacey said.
AACTA members can now view and vote for Die Bully Die at tv.aacta.org. Winners of the 2025 AACTA
Awards will be announced in February.
