by FilmInk Staff
Gorgo, a modern reimagining of Ovid’s Medusa myth, has been nominated for Best Short Film at the 2025 AACTA Awards. Casting a critical eye on contemporary Australian society, Gorgo uses myth to explore themes of coercion, control, and partner-based violence.
The nomination follows a string of accolades for Gorgo, including director Veniamin Gialouris’ recent win for Best Direction in a Student Film at the Australian Directors’ Guild Awards this November, and composer Sam Weiss winning Best Original Score at Flickerfest. The film also received multiple nominations at St Kilda Film Festival, and had its North American premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Written by Danielle Stamoulos, who also stars as Medusa, Gorgo tells the story of a Greek bride’s journey to Australia for an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. Match-making, known as προξενιό (proxenio) in Greek, was a practice that saw many women migrate to Australia over the course of the 20th century, married to men via photographs.
“Gorgo is without a doubt the most personal film I’ve ever made. Developing the film was a profoundly moving experience, as I dug deep into my family’s history and came to understand the immense sacrifices my grandmothers made for me. It’s my hope that Gorgo gives voice to their generation and honours their resilience,” said director Veniamin Gialouris.
Set in 1960s Australia, Gorgo reimagines Medusa’s story to explore parallels between historical and contemporary experiences of women, delving into enduring dynamics of control, coercion, and survival. These themes unfortunately still resonate in Australia today, where domestic violence remains one of our most pressing issues.
“The stories of Greek promised brides in Australia largely remain hidden in the cultural zeitgeist. It’s always uncomfortable to realise what my grandmothers went through, which is why writing and acting in this was very sensitive to me. This film really asks can sisterhood survive in a culture of coercion and oppression? Given the recent events of this past year with the US election, it feels we are asking this question now more than ever,” said writer Danielle Stamoulos.
The production team, led by producer Katie Amos—now at Made Up Stories—brought a spirit of collaboration to the set, with a predominantly female-led crew reflecting the film’s themes of sisterhood and solidarity.
“Gorgo was a rewarding project, driven by a talented and collaborative team. With women leading so many key departments across the board, we created an environment where everyone’s contribution was valued,” said producer Katie Amos.
Gorgo is also believed to be the first film to feature a score specifically written for the aulos, an ancient Greek instrument that accompanied orators as they told myths to their audiences millennia ago. Composer Sam Weiss and historical musician Max Brumberg collaborated to devise a haunting and timeless score that brings an ancient sound to modern audiences.
“When I first heard the aulos, I was immediately captivated by its sound. It was clear that this was the right instrument for us on so many levels, given its historical synergies with the mythical story of Gorgo. As the aulos was recently rediscovered in archaeology, there was no real way of notating a score for the instrument, as the handful of players that exist largely play by ear. So I had to develop my own unique notation method—or rather, a way to specifically instruct Max on what to play, how to play it and where to play.”
As Gorgo continues to captivate audiences, its AACTA nomination highlights the power of myth to confront issues in modern society.
You can vote for Gorgo in the 2025 AACTA Awards at https://tv.aacta.org/page/vote/.
You can watch Gorgo on AACTA TV at https://tv.aacta.org/film/gorgo/.
