Black background with white laurel wreaths and text celebrating the Stellar Short Film Festival 2024 official selection.
  • A young blonde woman and an elderly man sit on a park bench together during the daytime. The woman is wearing a light blue plaid coat over an orange sweater, while the man wears a brown jacket and a fedora hat. They are covered with a colorful plaid blanket. There are trees and grass in the background, and a mobility aid and a cup are on the ground next to them.

    ASHES

    Directed by Georgina Haig

    Bereft after the loss of her beloved father James, Frances misses the appointment to pick up his ashes. Through a bizarre posthumous prank, can James rectify his daughter’s habitual lateness, even after he’s gone?

  • An older man with gray hair and a beard talking to a woman with gray hair on a boat near the water.

    COLD WATER

    Directed by Jay & Shaun Perry

    Set in St Kilda, Australia, an elderly woman’s peaceful retirement is interrupted when her husband takes up a bizarre new hobby.

    WINNER: Best Screenplay (Jay & Shaun Perry)

    WINNER: Audience Choice

  • Five young people gathered around a red and beige SUV in a rural farm setting with large metal barns on a cloudy day.

    EDEN ALONE SURPASSES THEE

    Directed by Tom Chapman

    Jarred by the loss of his closest friend, a farmer on Tasmania’s remote West Coast, begins to mentor at-risk local youth. In an area renowned for its poverty, low literacy and high suicide rates, Stafford Heres is determined to provide opportunities for kids who have few.

    WINNER: Special Mention Award

  • A woman with long dark hair and closed eyes, seen in profile, in a softly lit setting.

    HAFEKASI

    Directed by Annelise Hickey

    A 10 year old girl begins to realise she’s different to her single, white mum and family. Mother and daughter navigate identity and belonging in ‘90s Melbourne suburbia.

    WINNER: Best Film

  • Young woman with long, light brown hair, wearing a matching animal print sports bra and shorts, standing outdoors in a green garden with trees and bushes in the background.

    INSPIRE ME

    Directed by Sophie Saville

    Determined to become the most inspirational disabled person ever, Madeleine Stewart embarks on a journey to become a Paralympian.

  • Two people standing outdoors on a windy day, looking into the distance with serious and content expressions.

    JIA

    Directed by Vee Shi

    Ming arrives in Australia to mourn her late son Yao. She embarks on a road trip with Eric, who she learns was in a romantic relationship with him, which challenges her conservative Chinese values. Their journey takes them through rural Victoria - where Ming scatters sand from Yao’s hometown across the last places he travelled - eventually finding a shared language in their suffering.

    WINNER: Best Performance (Sel Hiew)

  • A shirtless man with short brown hair and a beard standing outdoors in front of a house with a blurred background.

    MUD CRAB

    Directed by David Robinson-Smith

    Reflecting on her culpability, a woman recounts the traumatising assault she witnessed of a young man in a small Australian coastal town.

    WINNER: Best Cinematography (Jaclyn Paterson)

  • A man in a suit sitting on top of two kneeling men in a room with vintage wallpaper and brown carpet, seen through an open doorway.

    MYTH

    Directed by Alies Sluiter

    When strangers appear outside her window and lure her mother away, seven-year-old Sophie follows.

    WINNER: Rising Star (Lena Nankivel)

  • A young woman with long dark hair and freckles looking at an open jar of cream or lotion.

    RAISING THUNDER

    Directed by Kaleb McKenna

    A young girl discovers a magical cloud that may hold the key to mending her father’s broken heart.

  • A group of people running across a field with dust and smoke explosions behind them, some holding a basketball hoop.

    STRANGE BEASTS

    Directed by Darcy Prendergast

    During its decade of operation, the Bacchus Marsh Lion Safari was one of Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions… now one its greatest mysteries.

  • Man in beige shirt and striped tie eating a black sushi roll in a kitchen.

    SUSHI NOH

    Directed by Jayden Rathsam Hua

    Consigned to the care of her lonely uncle, nine-year-old Ellie encounters a bizarre sushi-vomiting kitchen appliance, triggering an avalanche of vibrant nightmares that seep into reality.

  • Two men with makeup and serious expressions pose close together in a dimly lit room.

    TEACH ME HOW TO CRY

    Directed by Finegan Sampson

    Unable to be vulnerable on stage, a middle-aged struggling actor is given one last chance to prove himself, taking a class with an acting coach who promises to transform his performance.

2024 HOSTS & JUDGING PANEL

  • An elderly man with white hair, glasses, and a beard, smiling, wearing a checked shirt and a lanyard, outdoors with greenery in the background.

    MICHAEL CATON

    AMBASSADOR

    With a phenomenal six-decade career, Michael is an Australian icon who has undeniably shaped the entertainment industry. Having earned his place in the prestigious Australian Film Walk of Fame for his exceptional contributions, Michael is a true luminary, showcasing his versatile talent across television, film, and stage both in Australia and beyond. His impressive resume boasts appearances in some of the nation’s most successful productions.

    As an Australian icon and our all-time favorite, we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Michael back as our Ambassador. Join us in extending a warm welcome to Michael as he returns to Stellar! Secure your VIP ticket for an exclusive opportunity to mingle with Michael and his fabulous wife Helen in the VIP pavilion and terrace.

  • A woman with red hair and a dark jacket sitting at a black table, resting her face on her hand, smiling softly, against a dark background.

    STEF SMITH

    DIRECTOR

    Stef Smith is a distinguished figure in the film and television industry whose remarkable achievements in the world of storytelling have garnered her widespread acclaim. 

    Stef recently directed the Stan Original Film “Jones Family Christmas,” starring iconic Australian talent Heather Mitchell.

    As the creator, showrunner, and series director of the AACTA-nominated, AWGIE-winning television miniseries “It’s Fine, I’m Fine,” Stef has earned accolades, with the Sydney Morning Herald dubbing it the “best Australian drama of the year.”

    Stef directed and produced the ABC iView sketch comedy series “The Lost Tapes,” funded by ABC and Screen Australia as part of their Fresh Blood initiative.

  • A portrait of a man with short dark hair and facial hair, wearing a white t-shirt and brown jacket with a cream-colored hoodie. The background is blurred.

    JACKSON TOZER

    ACTOR / DIRECTOR / WRITER

    Jackson’s journey in entertainment began with the 2014 ABC sketch series THIS IS LITTLETON. Since then, he’s graced screens worldwide, from DEADLOCH on PrimeVideo to THE NEWSREADER on ABC, MR INBETWEEN on FX, and FIVE BEDROOMS on Paramount+. His AACTA-nominated short film “HATCHBACK” is a Stellar favorite.

    In 2023, Jackson shared the screen with Hollywood stars John Cena and Zac Efron in Peter Farrelly’s upcoming comedy feature, RICKY STANICKY, set for an early release in 2024.

    But Jackson is more than an actor; he’s a talented writer and director, known for award-winning short films like UBER X-CITING DAY (Peninsula Film Festival: Best Screenplay) and THE DIVORCE (Hollywood Indie Film Awards: Best Comedy, Best Screenplay) and a genuinely good human.

  • Close-up of a smiling man with short brown hair, blue eyes, and a goatee, wearing a white shirt, black tie, and black tuxedo, against a blue background.

    JOHN SHEEDY

    DIRECTOR

    John’s remarkable career has been adorned with accolades, beginning with his first short film, Mrs McCutcheon which screened at Stellar in 2019. Mrs McCutcheon not only won Best Australian Short Film at the Melbourne International Film Festival but also garnered 52 awards worldwide, receiving an AACTA nomination and winning him Best Director at the 2018 Australian Directors Guild Awards. His feature film, H is For Happiness continued his success, winning the Film Prize at Cinefest Oz 2019 and the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2020, receiving ten nominations at the 2020 AACTA Awards, including for Best Film and Best Direction.

    Adding to his achievements, John’s second short film, Tarneit screened as the Opening Night Film at Flickerfest 2023 and was a crowd favourite at Stellar this year winning our coveted VA Digital Audience Choice Award.

    John is currently immersed in post-production for his second feature film, Runt based on the novel by Australian author Craig Silvey, which we are super excited about. 

  • A woman with red hair and blue eyes, wearing a white blouse, resting her head on her left hand and looking at the camera against a plain light background.

    LUCY GAFFY

    DIRECTOR

    With an impressive career spanning feature films, TV, documentaries, and short films, Lucy is a four-time Best Director nominee by the ADG and the winner of the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Short Film with “Dream Baby.”

    Lucy’s storytelling prowess shines in episodic television, having directed episodes for popular series like Doctor Doctor, The Unlisted, Amazing Grace, and Irreverent. Her recent role as the set-up director for the Sundance/STAN series “Totally Completely Fine” speaks volumes about her contribution to the industry.

    Adding to her illustrious career, Lucy directed the opening story “We the Spiders” for the anthology feature film, “Here Out West” (Co-Curious/ABC, 2021). This film, alongside directors Ana Kokkinos, Leah Purcell, Julie Kalceff, and Fadia Abboud, premiered as the Opening Night Film at the 2021 Sydney Film Festival, earning a nomination for the 2022 AACTA Award for Best Film

  • A woman with short, styled reddish hair, light skin, grey eyes, and wearing makeup, a nose ring, and earrings.

    ASHER YASBINCEK

    ACTOR

    Hailing from Perth, Western Australia, Asher made her mark in the Australian television drama series “The Heights,” captivating audiences with her portrayal of Rose across two seasons. Her exceptional performance contributed to “The Heights” winning the esteemed Best Casting in a TV Drama award at the Casting Guild of Australia Awards and the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Equity Awards.

    Asher has also graced the big screen with roles in the comedy-drama film “Rams” (2020) and the acclaimed “How to Please a Woman” (2022). However, it was her breakout role in the Netflix series “Heartbreak High” that truly showcased her versatility as an actress. Asher’s portrayal of Harper Mclean, where she shaved her head on-screen for the role, earned her a nomination for the AACTA Audience Choice Award for Best Actress.

  • A smiling middle-aged man with gray hair and facial hair, wearing a blue sweater, in a cozy indoor setting.

    SCOTT MAJOR

    MC

    With a career spanning over 35 years, Scott has made his mark as an award-winning director, actor, writer, and producer in TV, film, and theatre, both locally and internationally. Scott’s impressive credits include the internationally acclaimed reboot of Heartbreak High, where he reprised his iconic role of Peter Rivers, as well as his AACTA nominated feature film directorial debut, Darklands.