Five Australian shorts make it to Aspen

Wednesday 1 April 2009

Five Australian shorts will screen as part of Aspen Shortsfest which begins today.

The Ground Beneath (d: Rene Hernandez), Jerrycan (d: Julius Avery), Miracle Fish (d: Luke Doolan), Mutt (d: Glen Hunwick) and Netherland Dwarf (d: David Michôd) will screen in competition at this prestigious short film festival.

The Ground Beneath has been well received internationally, recently screening at this year’s Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival where it was awarded three festival prizes.

Miracle Fish and Netherland Dwarf both featured as part of this year’s Sundance Film Festival and was the second short film of Michôd’s to feature at Sundance in two years.

The short animation Mutt has done well both domestically and internationally screening not only at one of the premiere animation festivals but also winning the 2008 Yoram Gross Animation Award.

Festival favourite Jerrycan has screened at some of the most prestigious international film festivals including the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.

Aspen Shortsfest is an Academy accredited festival and is running 1 – 5 April 2009. For further information visit www.aspenfilm.org

The Ground Beneath
(20 mins)
Production Company: Passion Pictures
Writer/Director: Rene Hernandez
Producer: Kristina Ceyton
Cast: Tom Green, Rahel Abdulrahman, Jade LeBrocq, Paul Tassone

Synopsis: The Ground Beneath follows the emotional journey of a young teenager, Kaden, who lives a life of fear and threat. His friendship with Casey, the girl from school, and Lewis, a boy who spends time in his street, becomes a chance for change and self-discovery.

Jerrycan
(13.5 mins)
Production Company: Avery & Parkyn
Writer/Director: Julius Avery
Producer: Stuart Parkyn
Co-producer: Matt Downey
Cast: Tristan Burke, Walter Currie, Kyle Taylor, Nick Tomas and Dylan Thomas

Synopsis: Five bored kids with nothing to do decide to blow something up. Paper, scissors, rock seals the fate of Nathan, who risks everything after he is bullied into making a life and death decision.

Miracle Fish
(17 mins)
Production Company: Druid Films
Writer/Director: Luke Doolan
Producer: Drew Bailey
Cast: Karl Beattie, Brendan Donoghue, Tara Morice

Synopsis: Eight-year-old Joe has a birthday he will never forget. After friends tease him, he sneaks off to the sick bay, wishing everyone in the world would go away. He wakes up to find his dream may have become a reality.

Mutt
(7 mins)
Production Company: Circe Films & Glen Art Productions
Writer/Director: Glen Hunwick
Producer: Beth Frey

Synopsis: A simple game of ‘fetch’ is Mutt’s only desire in exchange for his loyalty and hard work, but the harsh taskmaster, Mac, is too busy to play – obsessing over the meagre income from the milk of the farm’s only cow, Matilda. When Mutt turns to the cow to play, the milk suddenly stops and the only hope for survival will be Mac’s acknowledgement of co-dependence.

Netherland Dwarf
(15 mins)
Presented by Aquarius Films and Qoob
Writer/Director: David Michôd
Producers: Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford
Cast: Jack Egan, Ewen Leslie, Mirrah Foulkes, Justin Rosniak

Synopsis: Harry really wants a rabbit. Harry’s dad really wants his wife back. And somehow in the middle of all this wanting, they’ve forgotten that they already have each other.

Victoria Buchan, The Lantern Group, victoria@lanterngroup.com.au
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