by FilmInk Staff
After a rollercoaster production and an award-winning festival run, Laugh With Me, a heartfelt and sharply observed short film, launched worldwide on the acclaimed YouTube channel Omeleto on Friday, October 3.
The film marks the debut collaboration between Karen Liebau McPherson (Director) and Lea da Silva Gomes (Producer), who met while studying their Master of Film and Television at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2021. Both mums from the Mornington Peninsula, they returned to university in their 40s to further their careers and pursue a long-held dream of storytelling through film.
“We were two mums who met at uni, chasing a dream that most people our age are told is too late to follow,” said producer Lea da Silva Gomes. “Through lockdowns, near-death experiences, and chaos on set, we somehow pulled together to make something truly beautiful. This film is proof that it’s never too late to bet on yourself.”
A Production That Nearly Didn’t Happen
Production on Laugh With Me almost didn’t happen at all due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The original shoot dates were postponed, and after extensive reshuffling of crew availability, the six-day shoot on location in Yarra Junction was finally ready to go. On the way to set, an almost very serious car accident nearly derailed the project — but the team pressed on.
By day two, Victoria entered what would become its longest and strictest lockdown of the pandemic. Overnight, the filmmakers were forced to condense their six-day schedule into less than four, reshuffling on set to keep cameras rolling. The project would never have been completed without the hardest-working cast and crew, who met the challenge with incredible speed, skill, and commitment.
“It wasn’t the film shoot we’d dreamed of — but it was unforgettable,” said director Karen Liebau McPherson. “And somehow, all of that urgency and heart made it into the final cut.”
Festival Success and Recognition
Despite its turbulent journey, Laugh With Me went on to achieve significant recognition on the festival circuit, including:
● Winner — Best Cinematography (National), Canberra Short Film Festival 2024
● Winner — Best Drama, DARE to Imag9ne 2023
● Winner — Best Australian Director, London Director Awards 2023 (Karen Liebau McPherson)
● Nominee — Best Direction in a Student Film, Australian Directors’ Guild Awards 2023 (Karen Liebau McPherson)
● Official Selections: Flickerfest International Short Film Festival 2023, Borrego Springs Film Festival 2023, Setting Sun Film Festival 2024, among others.
Worldwide Premiere on Omeleto
Now, Laugh With Me is set to reach its biggest audience yet through Omeleto, the world’s leading short film platform. With almost 4 million subscribers, Omeleto curates only a handful of films each month, spotlighting bold and original voices. For Laugh With Me, it represents not just a release, but the culmination of resilience and reinvention against all odds
