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S YNOPSIS ...... 3 P ROJECT S UMMARY ...... 4 C AST & C REW ...... 4 A WARDS & S ELECTIONS ...... 5 D IRECTOR B IOGRAPHY ...... 6 D IRECTOR S TATEMENT ...... 6 C AST & C REATIVE T EAM B IOGRAPHIES ...7 P RESS R ELEASES & A RTICLES ...... 10 S YNOPSIS

LOG LINE To meet an impossible deadline, a clueless illustrator must come face to face with his own creation: the mysterious Mistress Of The Forest.

SHORT SYNOPSIS For fledgling illustrator Neil, it's a dream come true to come up with a fantasy comic for a major publisher. Problem is, he's only got one night to do it and he's much more at home drawing dinosaurs. When a lack of sleep and an intense caffeine binge brings him face to face with the mysterious hero of his story, the Mistress of the Forest, Neil thinks she may have the answer to his creative woes. Too bad she's too busy living her own life to bother with Neil's lack of inspiration.

LONG SYNOPSIS Desperate to see his dinosaur comics in print, Neil Grayman ambushes publishing agent Karen Richardson. Initially Karen is having none of it. But when one of his other drawings catches her eye - the sketch of a mysterious female fantasy hero that Neil refers to only as The Mistress Of The Forest - she decides to give him a chance to develop the concept. There’s just one catch: he’ll get only one night. Back at his studio Neil grapples with the impossible task before him and as the night wears on his grip on reality begins to wane. Suddenly he is transported to a fantastical forest and is face to face with the mysterious Mistress herself. Suspecting the whole experience may be some sort of creative epiphany, Neil endeavours to win the Mistress over and gain her help. But she’s far too busy protecting the forest to bother with Neil’s lack of inspiration.

3 P RODUCTION S UMMARY C AST & C REW

The Mistress Of The Forest Forest The Of Mistress TitleThe Myra The Mistress Of The ForestStankiewicz Eleanor Runningseconds 7 Time minutes 9 Neil GraymanHiatt Nicholas Comedy // Fantasy // Adventure // Fantasy Genre Comedy // Karen RichardsonWilkinson Linden Aspect Ratio2.40:1 Hogart The BearmanHoneysett Troy Exhibition FormatsHQ422 ProRes Apple DVD Director, Writer & ProducerHiatt Nicholas Blu-Ray Blu-Ray Co ProducersStankiewicz Eleanor SoundStereo Emma Playfair Completion2017 Date 29, September Director of PhotographyTyler Jonathan Website nicholashiatt.com/the-mistress-of-the-forest & First Assistant Director Production & WardrobeAndronos DesignIsabella OriginalBlazé Jerome Music Sound Kristensen DesignLana Pierre Laba Sarkis Laba Pierre Editor ColouristKaleel Rimaz Fight ChoreographyHoneysett Troy Original IllustrationsHiatt Nicholas

4 5 D IRECTOR B IOGRAPHY

N ICHOLAS H IATT AS NEIL GRAYMAN

(C ASTD , IRECTOR W , RITER & P RODUCER ) Nicholas is an Australian actor, filmmaker and illustrator. He holds a BA in Multimedia Multimedia BAin a holds He illustrator. and filmmaker actor, Australian an is Nicholas Design from Curtin University and is a 2013 NIDA graduate (BA Dramatic Art: Acting). Acting). Art: Dramatic (BA NIDAgraduate 2013 a is and University Curtin from Design NIDA credits include: Iago in in Iago include: NIDAcredits Chuchill’s Caryl Othello in Betty and Cloud 9 . Since graduating he has appeared in children’s theatre, operas and short films, films, short and operas theatre, children’s in appeared has he graduating Since and has toured Australia with a new adaptation of the beloved Australian classic classic Australian beloved the of adaptation new a with Australia toured has and Snugglepot relocated and andFellowship Walsh Mike Cuddlepie a awarded was he 2016 In . to New York, where he continues to build his credits, including short films: films: short including credits, his build to continues he where NewYork, to Booth Reading with Columbia Film School. A desire to combine his several disciplines led led disciplines several his combine to desire A and School. Film Columbia‘H’ with Nicholas to writing and directing his first short film: film: short first his directing and writing to Nicholas The Mistress Of The Forest drawing , on his love of illustration, the fantasy genre and dinosaurs. dinosaurs. and genre fantasy the illustration, of love his on www.nicholashiatt.com

DIRECTOR STATEMENT It started with the image of shadowy hooded figure surrounded by trees; a female fantasy hero. fantasy female a trees; by surrounded figure hooded shadowy of image the with started It And then there was Neil, the comic artist grappling with the task of creating the story for this this for story the creating of task the with grappling artist comic the Neil, was there then And mysterious character. What if, to finish the project, he had to be transported to her world? At last last At world? her to transported be to had he project, the finish to if, What character. mysterious this was a chance to explore all the things I loved: the genre of fantasy, superheroes and my life mylife and superheroes fantasy, of genre the loved: I things the all explore to chance a was this long (possibly unhealthy) compulsion to draw dinosaurs. In writing I was inspired by my past life life mypast by inspired was I writing In dinosaurs. draw to compulsion unhealthy) (possibly long as an illustrator. I know the terror of the blank page, the frustration of putting pencil to paper and and paper to pencil putting of frustration the page, blank the of terror the know I illustrator. an as then failing to produce the brilliant image in my head. I have vivid memories of staying up all night, night, all up staying of memories vivid have I myhead. in image brilliant the produce to failing then shaking from the lack of sleep and copious amounts of sugar, just to reach a deadline. I took stylistic stylistic took I deadline. a reach to just sugar, of amounts copious and sleep of lack the from shaking influences from the films of Edgar Wright and the campiness of Xena: Warrior Princess –crafting a a –crafting Princess Warrior Xena: of campiness the and Wright Edgar of films the from influences story that was as much an examination of the process of creativity as the tragic absurdity of failure. of absurdity tragic the as creativity of process the of examination an much as was that story

6 C AST & C REATIVE T EAM B IOGRAPHIES

E LEANOR S TANKIEWICZ AS MYRA THE MISTRESS OF THE FOREST (C ASTC , OP RODUCER ) Eleanor graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2013 and was awarded the Australian Voice Voice Australian the awarded was and 2013 in Art Dramatic of Institute National the from graduated Eleanor Association’s Student Encouragement Award. Her work in theatre has seen her travel across Australia performing in in performing Australia across travel her seen has theatre in work Her Award. Encouragement Student Association’s classical and contemporary productions, this includes playing Catherine in State Theatre Company of South South Companyof Theatre State in Catherine playing includes this productions, contemporary and classical Australia’s critically acclaimed production of of production acclaimed critically Australia Australia’s Watch Neighbourhood with touring and Meyrick Julian by directed The Bell Shakespeare Company as part of of part Companyas Shakespeare Bell The Bell in Starveling and Helena Players The as appeared also Eleanor . Shakespeare’s 2016 production of of production 2016 Shakespeare’s Dream MidsummerNight’s A include credits screen Eleanor’s . as Rake well as various commercials, short films, and online content. content. online and films, short commercials, various

L INDEN W ILKINSON AS KAREN RICHARDSON (C AST ) Linden trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and has performed extensively within Australia and and Australia within extensively performed has and Art Dramatic of Institute National the at trained Linden New Zealand. Her numerous screen credits include popular Australian programmes Australian popular include credits screen numerous Her NewZealand. Rafters The To Packed and . She began script writing for stage and television late last century. In 2003 she returned to Sydney to returned she 2003 In century. last late television and stage HomeAway And for writing script began She . University and undertook a Master’s(2008) then a Doctoral degree (2014). (2014). degree Doctoral a then Master’s(2008) a undertook and University Her doctoral thesis focuses on the Myall Creek Aboriginal massacre of 1838 and the memorial erected to commemorate to erected memorial the and 1838 of massacre Aboriginal Creek Myall the on focuses thesis doctoral Her this atrocity 162 years later. She was last seen in 2017 at the Ensemble Theatre in in Theatre Ensemble the at 2017 in seen last was She later. years 162 atrocity this Service Lip joining is and Misto John by the cast of the web series series web the of cast the season. third ROMPtheir for

T ROY H ONEYSETT AS HOGART THE BEARMAN (C ASTF , IGHT C HOREOGRAPHER ) Troy Honeysett is an Australian stage and screen Actor. He has worked with Universal Pictures, through to local local to through Pictures, Universal with worked has He Actor. screen and stage Australian an is Honeysett Troy film, theatre and opera companies. He holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art in Acting from the National Institute of of Institute National the from Acting in Art Dramatic of Bachelor a holds He companies. opera and theatre film, Dramatic Art (NIDA), and a National Diploma of Dance Performance in Classical Ballet from the New Zealand NewZealand the from Ballet Classical in Performance Dance of Diploma National a and (NIDA), Art Dramatic School of Dance. A former competitive Martial Artist, Gymnast and Principal Dancer of Australian Dance Theatre – Theatre Dance Australian of Dancer Principal and Gymnast Artist, Martial competitive former A Dance. of School he has performed throughout Europe, The United States and Japan, featured in documentaries with the ABC, and the with documentaries in featured Japan, and States United The Europe, throughout performed has he has made guest performances on Australian television programs. He is the face of Builders AcademyAustralia. Builders of face the is He programs. television Australian on performances guest made has

7 C AST & C REATIVE T EAM B IOGRAPHIES

E MMA P LAYFAIR (C OP RODUCER ) Emma Playfair is an Australian actor and producer. After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts, Arts, Dramatic of Institute National the from graduating After producer. and actor Australian an is EmmaPlayfair Australia in 2013, Emma spent time pursuing the foundations of her career in Sydney, work shopping plays with theatre theatre with plays shopping work Sydney, in career her of foundations the pursuing time Emma spent 2013, in Australia makers, performing on stage, and furthering her skills as both an actor and producer for screen and stage. In 2016, Emma 2016, In stage. and screen for producer and actor an both as skills her furthering and stage, on performing makers, moved to London, creating an Australian theatrical company called NewPlay Productions. She produced two successful successful two produced She Productions. NewPlay called company theatrical Australian an creating London, to moved shows in the heart of London: London: of heart the in shows in companies Airswimming Australian fellow with and collaborate to Foodcontinues She . London.

J ONATHAN T YLER (D IRECTOR OFP HOTOGRAPHY ANDF IRST ASSISTANT D IRECTOR ) Jonathan Tyler is an Australian Cinematographer. Having spent the last 15 years working in the camera camera the in working years 15 last the spent Having Cinematographer. Australian an is Tyler Jonathan department on various Films, Television Series, Commercials and Short Films. He has learnt from some from learnt has He Films. Short and Commercials Series, Television Films, various on department of Australia's most acclaimed Cinematographers including: Russell Boyd ACSBoydMcAlpineDonASC, Russell including: Cinematographers acclaimed most Australia's of ASC ACS and Danny Ruhlmann ACS. In recent years he has worked as Director of Photography on Photography of Director as worked has he years recent In ACS.ASCRuhlmannDanny ACS and m any Short films, TVC's and Music Videos. Music and TVC's films, Short many

I SABELLA A NDRONOS (P RODUCTION & W ARDROBE D ESIGN ) Isabella Andronos is a production, set and costume designer who works across film, opera and theatre. She holds a Bachelor of of Bachelor a holds She theatre. and opera film, across workswho designer costume and set production, a is Andronos Isabella Dramatic Arts (Design) from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts and a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours: Class I) from from I) Class (Honours: Arts Visual of Bachelor a and Arts Dramatic of Institute National the from (Design) Arts Dramatic Sydney College of the Arts. She has been nominated for four Australian Production Design Guild (APDG) awards: Winning the the Winning (APDG)awards: Guild Design Production Australian four for nominated been has She Arts. the of College Sydney APDG Award for Emerging Live Performance Design for for Design Performance Live Emerging APDG for Award Performance Live Emerging Greeks The for: nominated and 2014, in Design for for Design Emergencies Fewer for Stage for Design Costume 2014, in Dream MidsummerNight’s A for Design Costume and Stage for for Stage include: film for Wedding Blood credits design Production 2015. in Greenhouse The TomWilson-White), Dir. (FF, (SF, Dir. Vonne Patiag), Patiag), TomgirlVonne Dir. (SF, and Benjamin) Tel Dir. Obscure The Miniseries, Reality (Virtual Stranger (SF, Dir. Peter Skinner), which featured Logie winners Joel Jackson ad Georgie Parker. Parker. Georgie ad Jackson Joel winners Logie featured which Skinner), Peter Dir. (SF, www.isabellaandronos.com

8 C AST & C REATIVE T EAM B IOGRAPHIES

L ANA K RISTENSEN (S OUND D ESIGN ) Lana excels within the genre of Sound Design for live Theatre Production, Film and TV. She has completed a Bachelor Bachelor a completed has She TV. and Film Production, Theatre live for Design Sound of genre the within excels Lana Degree in Audio Engineering and Sound Production 2011 at JMC Academy Brisbane and a Post Graduate Diploma in in Diploma Graduate Post a and JMCAcademy Brisbane at 2011 Production Sound and Engineering Audio in Degree Sound Production at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Sydney in 2014. Lana has worked as a sound sound a as worked has Lana 2014. in Sydney School Radio and Television Film, Australian the at Production Sound designer and supervisor for numerous short films, documentaries and TV broadcast with credits to include include to credits with TVbroadcast and documentaries films, short numerous for supervisor and designer Rescue Air , Hatch Match Dispatch Match Hatch TVmovie, a recently most and the of Day part ABC on Meas First broadcasted was that International Day of the Girl. the of Day International

J EROME B LAZÉ (C OMPOSER ) Jerome is musician based in Sydney, Australia. Learning piano from a young age Jerome has pursued music for the for music pursued has Jerome age young a from piano Learning Australia. Sydney, in based musician is Jerome majority of his life. His interest in production and composition developed at the beginning of High School. School. High of beginning the at developed composition and production in interest His life. his of majority Before graduating in 2016 he was well on his way to developing his skills as a professional musician, independently independently musician, professional a as skills his developing to way his on well was he 2016 in graduating Before releasing his own works. This served as the gateway to study Contemporary Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of of Conservatorium Sydney the at Music Contemporary study to gateway the as served This works. own his releasing M usic in 2017. In 2018 Jerome released his debut EP debut his released Jerome 2018 In 2017. in Music Perspective song the featuring , Into Fade collaboration in written , with Sydney based vocalist Ivy-Jane Browne. Ivy-Jane vocalist based Sydney with wwwww.soundbyjerome.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BEST FILM WIN TAKES PERTH FILMMAKER TO HOLLYWOOD

SYDNEY, Australia, April 1 2018 - A lifelong obsession with dinosaurs and fantasy has helped a Perth actor get his first short film shown in Hollywood.

NIDA graduate Nicholas Hiatt scripted, directed and starred in the short film The Mistress of the Forest, which he made on a shoestring budget of $1600. Last Saturday, March 31st it was named Best Film of Sydney’s Short + Sweet film festival, which means it will screen at the international final to be held at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre in Hollywood in October.

Hiatt plays a clueless comic book artist obsessed with drawing dinosaurs who is forced to meet his own creation. He said the film gave him a chance to explore all the things he loved - the fantasy genre, superheroes and his compulsion to draw dinosaurs. “In writing I was inspired by my past life as an illustrator,” he said. “I know the terror of the blank page, the frustration of putting pencil to paper and then failing to produce the brilliant image in my head. Turns out it wasn’t a huge jump of the imagination to invent an artist losing his mind.”

Hiatt, who grew up in the Perth Hills, also studied animation and multimedia at Curtin University. Soon after shooting the film in Sydney he moved to New York where he completed the post- production work, including recording a voice-over in a broom closet to shut out street noise. The short film also features Home and Away and Packed To The Rafters actor Linden Wilkinson and fellow NIDA grads Eleanor Stankiewicz and Troy Honeysett.

Hiatt said the win was more than he had hoped for. "This project took a long time to finish,” he said. “So to not only have it screen for an audience but also be awarded Best Film and go on to Hollywood is a real moment. "I'm very proud of the creative team. Lots of talented people generously gave their time to help with this project and I could not be happier to see their hard work acknowledged."

For more information contact:

Nicholas Hiatt // Phone: +91 (929)-284-5439 // Email: [email protected] Instagram: @hiatt.riot.films

27/09/2018 SHORT + SWEET FILM FINALS | Sydney Arts Guide

CINEMA SHORT + SWEET FILM FINALS

APRIL 1, 2018 | JUDITH GREENAWAY

This image: NAVIS Featured image: MISTRESS OF THE FOREST

The SHORT+SWEET FILM FESTIVAL is only one child in the Short+Sweet family. Short+Sweet has spread its popular 10-minute format in theatre, dance, cabaret & comedy across Australia and around the globe with the 10 minute lms showing in heats over the last few weeks with the nals last night.

There are great prizes on offer including the winning lm being screened in Los Angeles at the Short+Sweet Hollywood Film Festival in late 2018 and there are many other professionally based prizes up for grabs. Including mentorships with working Hollywood industry professionals, producers and actors who are all on the Stella Adler Theater Board.

The nalists were:

NAVIS (AUS) Writer: Angharad Nettle-Smythe Director: Roan Sajko Producer: Marianza Zumbo Cast: Ashleigh Stewart, Natana Poa

A Science Fiction drama where a woman awakens after a violent crash and makes it her mission to survive despite the unfamiliar terrain. Plagued by memories of a little boy knows she can’t rest until she finds him.

Coherent and cohesive world building using orange and grey washed soft focus palatte to delineate the present https://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/short-sweet-ﬁlm-ﬁnals/ 1/6 27/09/2018 SHORT + SWEET FILM FINALS | Sydney Arts Guide and the memory. Especially good technically was the use of light especially around the face inside the helmet. Clever costume creation too.

BAD HOMBRES, BEST MEN (US) Writer/Director Carlos Grana Cast:Megan Putnam, Ben Russell, William McCarthy, Benardo Cruz, David Bladwin

A fake mariachi wedding band has a disturbing way of ensuring newlyweds remain together forever. . .

The audio design here was really enjoyable, not just the slight echo in the vehicle but the use of cacophony in the beginning and with the 2 person band, streetscape and sirens. There was a controlled use of colour, especially inside the van with the light used very effectively.

#METOO (AUS) Writers:Tony Paulley, Ayeshah Rose Directors:Tony Paulley, Ayeshah Rose Cast:Ayeshah Rose, Tony Paulley, Ellen Westberg, John Boychuk

Even in 2018 women are often seen as objects. In this instance a woman is auditioning for a role but it seems her acting ability is not enough. She feels the obligation to bare everything.

This virtually wordless offering was replete with sadness explored through very effective black on black. The impassivity and indifference of the female judge was a superb counterpoint to the protagonist's suffering. The use of XCU intercuts really brought the audience in, as did the power of the viola/ piano score.

THINGS THAT GO BUMP (AUS) Writer/Producer:Aisha Jakszewicz Director:James Shannon Cast: Steve Young, Aisha Jakszewicz

A black comedy with a twist. Rose, our Femme Fatale, as evil as evil comes, walks her latest victim through a desolate bush track, under the cover of night. But unbeknownst to Rose, she too is being hunted…

Stellar use of natural framing here in a very technically adroit film. Foliage, swinging objects even shadows to give a shrouded yet fully seen image. The dialogue foregrounded the re-troping of a whole genre with a delicious final twist.

https://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/short-sweet-ﬁlm-ﬁnals/ 2/6 27/09/2018 SHORT + SWEET FILM FINALS | Sydney Arts Guide

WORKING LATE (UK) Writer/Director:David Gilbank Cast:Kathryn Hanke, Art Bastard, Jamie Smelt, Tome Jackson

A suspicious wife confronts her husband when he arrives home late. He offers a litany of increasing outlandish excuses to explain his tardiness, none of which are believed.

The uneasiness of the situation was well communicated by a slightly unsteadiness in the camera and the use of sneaky zoom in and/ or outs. Clever story which turned the traditional on its head with a couple of fun performances at its centre.

KISS ME (AUS) Writer/Director:Lara Gissing Cast:Grace Lowry, Nicholas Denton

A young couple goes camping in an attempt to salvage their relationship. Is this really what they want?

An unusual visual take on the bush with a sandy, hazy, washed out feel rather than gum greens or tree browns. A good central performance that was cleverly passive-aggressive. Clever use of angle for the tent sequence and a nice scripting of a relationship in real trouble.

STRANGERS IN THE PARK (UK) Director/Writer:Danilo Zambrano Cast:Danielle Galligan, Mark Griffin

Two strangers, Trevor and Aisling, share a park bench during their lunch. Trevor is shy and reserved, while Aisling is outgoing and sociable. An improv-based short.

Apart from the very engaging performances, this film had terrific shot sections. From the locked off long shot which allowed the characters to explore proximity and apartness, to the cuts to puppets interspersed with character CUs, the film explored the intimacy or distance very subtly.

12 ZLOTY (ISRAEL) Directors/Writers/Producers: Yael Reisfeld & Nofar Schweitzer

A dreamy, animated fantasy that moves from a Polish butcher shop to a romantic undersea paradise!

Such an attractive watercolour feel to the animation with completed lines but limited fill ... just enough to give the figures character. Red cheeks just lovely. The sadness at the end very well engendered in the opened out setting. The ethnic, old-world sound effects and figure shapes was very appealing.

BLIND DATE (AUS) Writer/Director:Mitchell McArdle Producer:Alyce Comey DOP:Samuel Battin Cast:Sean Luther Hall, Raechyl French, Atlas Adams

Daniel, desperate for love as his mid-life crisis approaches, turns to blind dating. Upon arrival, he soon realises that his date, Anna, is not as she seems. Unfortunately for Daniel, his best mate Simon attempts to sabotage the date for his own cruel enjoyment.

The storytelling here was excellent due mainly to the character creation and development. The use of close-ups to get inside their heads and to put his initial social inadequacy on display is excellent. You can see his mind working.

SOUL WHISPERINGS (AUS) Director: Simmone Smiles https://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/short-sweet-ﬁlm-ﬁnals/ 3/6 27/09/2018 SHORT + SWEET FILM FINALS | Sydney Arts Guide Cast: Lexi Smiles, Simonne Smiles

A dance/documentary capturing the shared creativity and passion for dance between mother & daughter.

Beautiful washed watercolour used here. The bare room with polished wood floors and ecclesiastical windows and doors to give the nostalgia of children’s dance classes. The wistfulness of movement and dance to move the spirit. Gentle and with a delightful use of landscape and long shot.

BUBBLES (AUS) Writer/Director/Producer:Mohini Herse Cast:Aileen Huynh, Luke McMahon

Rom-Com where Carmen (and her pet fighting fish) use an app called 'Touch' for nightly, platonic cuddles.

Sound and vision allied here with a vaguely aquarium blue cast to the practical lighting elements in her apartment, especially the round window. The audio use of bubble motif for the communication of the fish and the phone app meshed well. Cute cartoons on the final credits too.

MISTRESS OF THE FOREST

THE MISTRESS OF THE FOREST (AUS) Director/Writer/Producer:Nicholas Hiatt Producer:Eleanor Stankiewicz/ Emma Playfair DOP:Jonathan Tyler Cast:Nicholas Hiatt, Eleanor Stankiewicz, Linden Wilkinson, Troy Honeysett

Fantasy Drama where, to meet an impossible deadline, a clueless illustrator must come face to face with his own creation: the mysterious Mistress Of The Forest.

This film made use of excellent design both for backgrounds and the drawings. The latter being especially effective to deepen the storyline. The "sequential artist" and his imagination and obsessions is well drawn in both the fantasy and real-life with the narrative moving swiftly.

A LITTLE MORE CONVERSATION (AUS) Writer/Director:Maddi Fitzmaurice Producer/Actor:Claire Stewart-Moore Cast:Sam Wallace, Tara Geraghty

Crippled by social anxiety, Terry has finally met his perfect girl.

This sweet and touching offering made excellent use of backgrounds to show the sterility of the situation and the use of very well created graphics over the medical professional added to the poignancy of the man's longing.

BEYOND THE BUBBLE (AUS) Producer/Director:Anna Hilderbrandt Writer:Cec Parnell Cast:Alice Ansara, Jared Jekyll, Michelle Lim Davidson, Maxi Shield

As rents skyrocket in the city, 3 friends must consider life outside ‘the bubble’.

The use of context worked very well to set up the premise of the film and the characters were clear and the relationships accessible from the first. It certainly pokes gentle fun at millennials and their lifestyle without becoming too broad. That was left to the fun, dynamic presence of the redoubtable Maxi Shield. https://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/short-sweet-ﬁlm-ﬁnals/ 4/6 27/09/2018 SHORT + SWEET FILM FINALS | Sydney Arts Guide

SAVING MERCURY (AUS) Writer/Director:Ali Kadhim Producer:John Worthington Cast:Olga Miller, Anastasia Miller, T. Ropati, P. Pedersen, A. Volmer

In the not too distant future, a young woman carries the key to humanity’s survival…

The action sequence in this short was as good as you would see on the big screen. It was shot and edited to put the fight on perfect display, mixing slowmo and speeded up with different angles. The bloodletting really got the audience going. An excellent exploration of genre.

MRS S

Mrs S (AUS) Writer/Director:James R. Woods DoP:Shaun Dougherty Cast:Gabrielle Scollay, James R. Woods, Jay K. Cagatay

A brother and sister in search for help in the Australian bush visit a petrol station where the owner gives them more help than they had bargained for…

Some very enjoyable scripting here, particularly in the first sequence in the car when the 2 characters and their relationship is really well, and quickly, communicated to the audience. The acting is great fun all round, too, with the bickering very well explored.

And the winners: The Judges selected BEYOND THE BUBBLE & MISTRESS OF THE FOREST

The AIT Award going to A LITTLE MORE CONVERSATION.

The Audience Award was picked up by SOUL WHISPERINGS and STRANGERS IN THE PARK.

My favourite on the night: SAVING MERCURY. A kick ass female protagonist and excellence in technique with great costuming, makeup and special effects.

Festival director Gregory Dolgopolov said “In a wide eld, all lms attracted awards and considerable audience love. Congratulations to all the lmmakers who contributed lms and took part in the Heats and were a big part of the Short+Sweet Film Festival in Sydney.”

If you are getting your lm ready for next year more information is available at SHORT+SWEET FILM FESTIVAL [Facebook].

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THE JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SF3 Smartfone Flickfest Film Festival GALA FI- TROP JNR 2017 : OUR YOUNG FILMMAKERS IS ON NOW: Giveway double passes NAL @ Palace Chauvel Cinema PADDINGTON SHOW PLENTY OF PROMISE November 16, 2017 September 1, 2015 February 12, 2017 In "Cinema" In "Cinema" In "Film Festival"

https://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/short-sweet-ﬁlm-ﬁnals/ 5/6 (HTTPS://WWW.FILMINK.COM.AU/)

(https://www.hachette.com.au/the-realm/? bsa_pro_id=1065&bsa_pro_url=1) (https://www.hachette.com.au/the-realm/? bsa_pro_id=1065&bsa_pro_url=1) (https://www.hachette.com.au/the-realm/? bsa_pro_id=1065&bsa_pro_url=1) (https://www.hachette.com.au/the-realm/? bsa_pro_id=1065&bsa_pro_url=1) (https://www.hachette.com.au/the-realm/? bsa_pro_id=1065&bsa_pro_url=1) The Best Australian short ﬁlms off to World Cup by Dov Kornits June 11, 2018

The Socceroos won’t be the only ones kicking goals in Russia at the FIFA World Cup.

A curated collection of the best Australian films from the past year will screen in every city where Australia is set to play in the FIFA World Cup, to inspire audiences to get behind the Socceroos. The program has been curated by Greg Dolgopolov (Vision Splendid (http://www.visionsplendidfilmfest.com/), Russian Resurrection Film Festival (http://russianresurrection.com/) and Short+Sweet (http://filmfestivalsaustralia.com/event/short-sweet-film-festival/) artistic director) from the thousands of shorts that he has seen over the past twelve months.

“After a rigorous selection process working with the Australian Embassy in Moscow to ensure diverse image of Australia, a wonderfully representative collection of recent films has made the cut for this first ever festival of soft diplomacy, but films that do not shy away from some tough themes,” said Dolgopolov as he prepared for the Russian trip.

The films include Miro by Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, a dynamic Indigenous revenge Western set on a station in the aftermath of WWII. When Miro (Mark Coles Smith) returns home at the end of WWII he finds his land taken, his daughter stolen, his people relocated and his service record treated with contempt. But the New Guinea battlefield has taught him how to fight and he sets out to reunite his family, waging his own form of justice.

“It is worth noting that Russian cinema has had its own surge of award winning First Nation cinema that has taken out awards at ﬁlm festivals across the country,” says Dolgopolov. “Yakut Cinema (https://www.ﬁlmink.com.au/blagovesehnsk-mon-amur/) (from Russia’s resource rich far northern regions) has strong connections with the recent all-conquering Australian Indigenous cinema and this should prove especially interesting to Russian audiences.”

A number of the ﬁlms have emerged out of the new Short+Sweet Film Festival in Sydney and Melbourne that include The Mistress of the Forest by Nicholas Hiatt, Slingshot by David Hansen and Nathan Loves Ricky Martin by Steven Arriagada and starring Russian expat actor Albert Goikhman and is the only ﬁlm that didn’t need subtitles.

A certain highlight will be The Eleven O’Clock by Derin Seale and written and performed by Josh Lawson. The ﬁlm won an AACTA for Best Short Fiction Film and was nominated for an Oscar, having started life 13 years ago as a play at a Sydney season of Short+Sweet.

Other ﬁlms include Alyssa McLelland’s dark comedy Second Best about the power of identical twin sisters and the unbreakable bond that binds them, Genevieve Clay-Smith’s The Kill Off – about a woman with an intellectual disability who forms an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee through their mutual love of Krump and sassy talk.

Rounding out the program is another ACTAA Award winning short, this time for animation, Daniel Agdag’s Lost Property Office. A beautifully hand–crafted stop-motion animation set in a stylish art deco, post– industrial cardboard world. The entire film was fashioned from over 2,500 sheets of recycled cardboard, patiently hand-cut over 18 months giving the film a warm other-worldly glow. “There is a staggering amount of short films produced in Australia, but rarely will a curated program of short films travel to another country to be presented as a cultural vuvuzela to make noise in support of the Green and Gold,” says Dolgopolov proudly. “It is hoped that the diverse program of films will provide Russian audiences and World Cup fans a small window in to the Australian soul.”

The program of Australian short ﬁlms will screen from June 13, 2018 in Moscow, Kazan, Samara and Sochi before all of the Socceroo games.

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BRIEFLY, IN AUSTRALIAN

Vadim Rutkowski 29 May 2018

Introducing Short + Sweet, Australia's premier festival of short

Here is a quick guide to a selection of 8 selected movies on specials in Russian cinemas ‑ with key words: from vengeance to lust.

Each national cinematography has its own characteristics ‑ unique, like fingerprints. Australian cinema is a juicy, hyper‑saturated color: the nature of the continent commits. And feelings that do not know half‑measures: love ‑ so love, shoot ‑ so shoot.

Short film is a special kind of art; requires capacity, conciseness and an acute unpredictability of the anecdote, even when it comes to tragic events. The panorama of the Australian short meter reflects the entire picturesque, violent, passionate country.

Revenge is a synonym for "Miro" , a western on the real bleeding material ‑ the postwar history of Australia.

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Miro is an aboriginal, a native inhabitant, to whom the government did not leave any rights ‑ except for the right to die heroically on the fronts of the Second World War. But Miro survives and returns to his homeland victorious. But he does not see gratitude for valor, on the contrary: he will find his land captured, he will find that his daughter is kidnapped. And then he will have to apply the laws of war to peaceful life ...

Freestyle, like the wind on the prairie, a fighting anarchist film is permeated with faith in the union of good and kulaks. In the title role ‑ Mark Coles Smith ( TV series "Picnic at the Hanging Rock" ). Parallels with the sensational full meter of 2017 ‑ the one shown in the competition of Venice and outside the competition at the Moscow International Film Festival Western "Sweet Land" ‑ are welcome.

About love ‑ accurate and fun ‑ says "Slingshot" .

One hot, hot day in a trailer park, inhabited by modest and poor, but very bright people ...

A light and summer atmospheric comedy about sunny leprosy, first kisses ( with tightly squeezed eyes ) and toy weapons, which today turned the bow and arrows of the Cupid. http://www.coolconnections.ru/en/blog/posts/a69cda76-853d-443a-944b-082850cddb7f 2/6 27/09/2018 Brieﬂy, in Australian | Introducing Short + Sweet, main in Nostalgia ‑ the theme of elegant animation, a railway romance "Lost and Found" .

In the gray, sad morning, an old clerk, who had honestly cut off long years in the station's lost office, learns that his "graveyard of forgotten things" is being closed: in the digital era, there is no need to carefully store antique stuff; eccentrics is no more. But before leaving the workplace for good, the clerk picks up a small mechanical little man from the platform ...

Artistic monochrome cartoon ‑ a sweet bitter cocktail of memories and nostalgia for the analog era.

"Eleven Hours" is an enchanting comedy about psychiatrists .

One doctor here is a real one, the other is not: behind the luminary of medicine, he gives himself away a psychopath. Only who is who?

Almost an anecdote on the topic loved by all the normal people turned into a perfect movie story. A droll ridiculous reminder of the relativity of mental health.

"Beat on the spot" is Bergman + "Step Forward" : a psychological drama with dances.

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Sonya ( Jamie Brewer, "American Horror Story" ) is an alternative gifted girl, works in the laundry, permanently argues with her elder sister Emma. Today, sisters must visit a seriously ill mother. But Sonya lingers at work: her casual acquaintance, an African refugee, turned out to be a fan of krump dance ...

A good and moving movie about mutual understanding, the path to which becomes easier when there is music and dancing.

Creativity and its quirks ‑ in the focus of the fantastic comedy "Lady Wood" .

http://www.coolconnections.ru/en/blog/posts/a69cda76-853d-443a-944b-082850cddb7f 4/6 27/09/2018 Brieﬂy, in Australian | Introducing Short + Sweet, main in Neal ‑ a young and, it seems, a talented draftsman comics. Dinosaurs are his obsession. But what if the venerable publisher was not attracted by toothy lizards, but the sexy warrior of the World, which in the Nile universe is more like a side project? ..

A small but multifaceted film plays with our fantasies and desires ‑ imaginary and real. And not everyone can deal with them without the help of superheroes.

Fate is the motif of the comedy about twins and gymnastics "Number Two" .

Velika and Nuzka Bortsovs are twin sisters, both were engaged in sports in their early childhood, but now only Nuchka has left her dreams about the career of the gymnast ( under the hard coaching eye of her mother ). Velika forgot about all ambitions and spends weekdays in her father's sanitary ware shop. However, you never guess who and where the great joker destiny prepared the first place ...

Thin, thought out to trifles, a talentedly nuanced film, with an open and sincere smile, talking about very serious things.

And, finally, lust ‑ the element of the black comedy "Nathan likes Ricky Martin . "

http://www.coolconnections.ru/en/blog/posts/a69cda76-853d-443a-944b-082850cddb7f 5/6 27/09/2018 Brieﬂy, in Australian | Introducing Short + Sweet, main in The heroes here are an incredible trio. A stubborn invalid is a victim of cerebral palsy. An obsessed mother‑in‑law. And a seasonal worker who speaks Russian. In this story, their paths will unexpectedly intersect ‑ to the popular rhythms of the foreign stage ...

The most provocative member of the Australian mini‑festival is a hooligan response to the triumph of political correctness and emotionally balanced cinema.

Short + Sweet. Best Short Films from Australia (2018) Short + Sweet. Best Short Films from Australia (2018) Short + Sweet: Best Short Films from Australia Short + Sweet: Best Short Films from Australia

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