by FilmInk Staff
We Don’t Take Breaks, an ode to hospitality workers, takes out Second Place and Best Actor at Tropfest. Director Jasper Sharpe says this is only the beginning.
We Don’t Take Breaks has been awarded Second Place at Tropfest 2025, the world’s largest short film festival, alongside the Best Actor award for Ben Keller. The win marks a breakout moment for first-time Tropfest director Jasper Sharpe and his Melbourne-based team.
Inspired by shared experiences working in hospitality, the film offers a point-of-view look at the inner life of a hospo worker mid-shift. It captures the camaraderie, pressure and quiet resilience that come with the job, while also acknowledging the realities of low pay, rude customers and tough bosses.
Director Jasper Sharpe said the story was drawn directly from life behind the counter.
“The film was seeded through lived experience working in greasy hospo jobs, naturally I’ve worked a few as an aspiring director. Though the script became a little more exciting than the jobs I’d worked, the tone and characters were still inspired from real people and places! I really just wanted to create a vibe, one which was raw, aussie and relatable.” Jasper Sharpe, Director
The film came together rapidly following the announcement of Tropfest’s return, with Sharpe writing the first draft almost immediately. Shot entirely in a small chicken shop over two nights, the production relied on a tight-knit crew and a community of collaborators who volunteered their time to bring the project to life.
Producer Sophie Johnson said the commitment behind the scenes was what carried the film through. “This film only exists because people showed up for it. Crew, cast and friends gave their time, often unpaid, because they believed in the story and in each other. It was a genuine act of community filmmaking.” Sophie Johnson, Producer
The film was praised by the Tropfest jury, led by Margot Robbie, alongside Sarah Snook, Taron Egerton, Danny Philippou, Dylan River, Bruna Papandrea and virtual judge James Cameron. In presenting the award, Robbie said, “This film really impressed us. Such confident, stylish filmmaking, we absolutely adored it.”
Creative Director Ben Bryan said the team focused on translating the stress and rhythm of a hospitality shift into a visual and sonic language. “We leaned into the feeling of working in hospo, blurred visuals, tight frames and a constant sense of motion. The jazz-style drums underpin the whole film, creating that frantic, never-ending energy. Everything was designed to feel like a shift that won’t let you breathe, and to translate that pressure honestly onto the screen.” Ben Bryan, Creative Director
For Sharpe and his collaborators, the Tropfest recognition represents momentum rather than a finish line. The team is already deep in development on what comes next, continuing to build with the same urgency, collaboration and ambition that defined We Don’t Take Breaks.
Voting is now open for the CommBank Tropfest 2026 People’s Choice Award, with audiences invited to watch the finalist films and cast their vote online.
