The Stellar 12 – 2023
A Defiantly Happy Story
(21 min)
Director: Alex Cummings
When Nathan Garcia was born, it was immediately apparent that something wasn’t right. This was just the beginning of what became a lifelong medical battle, fighting for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Against the odds, Nathan continued to survive and thrive, thanks to the profound love and care provided by his mum Monique who would stop at nothing to get Nathan the care he deserved. Even working on a PhD in Medical research to understand and improve their situation.
An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I Think I Believe It
(11 min)
Director: Lachlan Pendragon
When a young telemarketer is confronted by a mysterious talking ostrich, he learns that the universe is stop motion animation. He must put aside his dwindling toaster sales and focus on convincing his colleagues of his terrifying discovery.
Ayaan
(17 min)
Director: Alies Sluiter
An escaped asylum seeker encounters a man on a rural beach, and must decide whether to trust him, or attempt the 400 km journey to the nearest city on foot and alone.
Freedom Swimmer
(15 min)
Director: Olivia Martin-McGuire
A grandfather's perilous swim from China to Hong Kong is paralleled with his granddaughter's quest for a new freedom.
Hatchback
(12 min)
Director: Riley Sugars
Vince attempts to dispose of a dead body for the mob, but when he reluctantly enlists the help of his dim-witted brother-in-law Ted, things don’t go to plan.
Stonefish
(16 min)
Director: Megan Smart
Jonathan is a sweet but anxious aspiring writer and poet who dreams of taking the mic in front of audiences at his local spoken word night but is stymied by stage fright. To make matters worse, his writing time is interrupted by the incessant barking of his neighbor's dog. Jonathan tries to handle the situation with diplomacy, but his abrasive neighbour Don intimidates him, and Jonathan can't quite bring himself to ask for what he wants.
When Jonathan takes matters into his own hands, he makes one mistake after another, culminating in a confrontation with Don. But Jonathan must leverage his gifts for clever communication to get out of the situation, which could lead to a creative and personal breakthrough -- if he survives.
Tangki (Donkey)
(6 min)
Directors: Jonathan Daw & Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM
Three Anangu women recount how donkeys came to be well-loved in their desert community in the time before modern things like cars existed. Today, one special donkey is still a good friend.
Tarneit
(22 min)
Director: John Sheedy
Tyrone lives with his distressed mother and her boyfriend Pommy, a lowlife who despises immigrants and homosexuals. Tyrone’s best friend Clinton, a refugee, lives with his overworked mother and older brother Shaker, who also has firm ideas about race and sex. Despite these obstacles, Tyrone and Clinton are deeply bonded. Partly because they’re both Deaf, partly through a shared sense of neglect, but mostly because they share a dream of one day escaping the harsh violence that swirls around them.
The Moths Will Eat Them Up
(8 min)
Directors: Luisa Martiri & Tanya Modini
A simple train ride home at night for a woman turns into a terrifying game of cat and mouse with a stranger until an unforeseen force is summoned.
This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us
(14 min)
Director: D.C. Fairhurst
Two rival pickpockets clash in an increasingly risky game of cat-&-mouse.
Voice Activated
(7 min)
Director: Steve Anthopoulos
A florist, who stutters, finds his voice when he’s forced to cooperate with a voice activated car.
What Was it Like?
(15 min)
Director: Genevieve Clay-Smith
Eight filmmakers with intellectual disability interview their parents about what it was like when doctors delivered the news of their diagnosis.