by FilmInk Staff
Feature Judges
Andrew Leavold (Jury Chair)
Amiel Courtin-Wilson and Alexandra Fredricks
Short Films Judges
Andrew Leavold (Jury Chair)
Nadine Whitney and Joshua Belinfante
Best International Short
THE LOVERS
Carolina Sandvik
Sweden | Animation
“Quite simply stop motion perfection. Something is eating away at a couple’s relationship – something small at first, but soon the man is falling apart, physically unravelling, his flesh and organs disappear. Yet his lover stays. She can’t put him back together; but she is there – shopping with him, taking photographs, helping him to find a new public face.”
Best Australian Short
ROOM FOR ONE MORE
Jesse Vogelaar
Australia | Comedy
“There are so many witty and whimsical flourishes, but what Vogelaar does best is have two men having an open conversation about… feelings via a puppet bat and a dying request for the legacy of friendship to be remembered.”
When an entire house collapses on him, Alex realises he’s close to death. Will he use his final moments to reconnect with loves ones? Or will he go all-in on pitching his brilliant short film idea to his friend Bruno?
Best Documentary Short
BORN TO HUSTLE
Grace Anna Cardona
Australia | Documentary
“Radically honest about her ADHD and how that impacts upon her life and relationships, Emma Addams can’t and won’t stay still. With clients ranging from Billie Eilish to Lil Nas X and Karl Lagerfeld – Addams is the go to person for goth/punk/metal accessories all carved from own moulds.”
Carve open the frenzied mind of Emma Addams and you’ll discover an unruly symphony of many different layers.
Jeweller, Artist, Entrepreneur, Born Hustler.
Best Feature Film
DARLA IN SPACE
Susie Moon & Eric LaPlante
USA | Comedy / Sci-Fi
Darla in Space is a quirky, out-of-this-world comedy that follows Darla Peterson, the owner of Kitty Kasket, LLC, a company that crafts custom coffins for cats.
What ensues is a hilarious journey filled with outrageous marketing schemes, cosmic escapades, and a touching friendship between a woman and a kombucha!
Director’s Choice
THE ORGANIST 🫀
Andy Burkitt
Australia | Drama / Comedy / Horror / Thriller
In this deliciously macabre Melbourne-shot indie black comedy, Graeme Sloane (Jack Braddy) discovers that his organ-procurement job is a front for feeding a wealthy cannibal.
Andy Burkitt’s feature directorial debut is morbid yet charming, blending absurdity with a darkly twisted plot!
