AFIN 2025 AWARD RESULTS
WHAT IS A NOMINEE?
🌟 NOMINEES > AWARD WINNERS, and IMDB
As an IMDb-Qualifying festival, only projects that reach Nominee or Award Winner status are eligible for IMDb listing.
Nominee: Nominated for an award, remains as a nominee if not won. (IMDb-Qualifying)
Award Winner: Wins the award, transitioning from Nominee status. (IMDb-Qualifying)
We audit IMDb listings for accuracy and will request corrections for any incorrect entries.
Award Winners and Nominees will receive IMDb project location details, submission status, laurels/certificates, and prizes after the event.
When adding to IMDb, ensure the correct award, year, and choose:
Award Winner: Rank as "Winner (1)"
Nominee: Rank as "Nominated (nom)"
Our festival includes only Award Winners and Nominees We do not have finalists, semi-finalists, quarter-finalists, Honorable Mentions, or official selections.
2025 Award Categories Eligibility
At AFIN, we do not charge for projects per category, they are considered for all categories applicable to their project, with a single entry fee.
2025 Award Nominated & Winning Projects Showcase
List is in progress as categories are announced and updated - Current list of released nominations and finalist placements in released categories is below the showcase
2020 VISION
Directed by Lisa Smithies
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 14m 24s
Synopsis
2020 was a clusterfluff of a year that had a lasting impact on our kids. One brave Aussie dance school decided to do something about it! 2020 Vision goes behind the scenes as they create a glittering routine to honour the year 2020. Sure, it’s wildly inappropriate to celebrate bush fires, a pandemic, and race riots through dance, but how else are these kids going to make sense of our crazy world?
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Short Film - Lisa Smithies, Nyrée Alexander
☑️ CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION - Australian Film
RECIPRE
Director's Biography
Lisa Smithies is co-creator of Punch Buggy Pictures, with her sister Nyrée Alexander. We've been writing film and TV projects for years, but 2020 Vision is our first production together and we went B.I.G.!! Lots of kids, lots of heart, lots of costumes, and a little bit of catastrophe. Funny-sad is our usual vibe when we write. We love female-centred film projects with lots of laughs, love and the occasional gut-punch of reality.
Lisa is based in Melbourne, Australia.
80 FACES OF FREEDOM
Directed by Jason van Bruggen
Short Documentary - Canada - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 17m 19s
Synopsis
On May 5th, 1945 the Netherlands was officially liberated from Nazi occupation by Allied Forces, mostly Canadian. My parents were among the generation that survived occupation and lived through the 'Hunger Winter', often eating tulip bulbs to survive. Now, 80 years since the war ended, the stories of those who survived are here to remind us of the perils of war. As the world faces new totalitarian threats, these stories are more relevant than they ever have been in my lifetime. Inspired by a photo of my Aunt Femie, wearing her only dress, standing on the street waving at Allied tanks on Liberation Day May 1945, I have been seeking out and interviewing the remaining survivors of that period. Over the last 2 years, I have met with 80 people, the length and breadth of the Netherlands, one for each year of freedom. These are their stories.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Short Subject - Jason van Bruggen
Director's Biography
Jason van Bruggen is a Dutch-Indonesian-Canadian visual artist whose work spans motion pictures and photographs. His documentary/near-documentary work is focussed on the relationship we have with our changing world. Through large-scale photographs, often shown as installations where the context is as important as the photograph itself, and filmed narratives, he asks questions about whether we have reached our peak as a species and whether we can engineer our way past the mortal and self-inflicted challenges of climate change and population growth.
van Bruggen’s photographic work is informed by his experiences traveling to over 150 countries as an international development worker, a professional adventurer, and a military contractor. His film work bears witness to the profound disconnection between people and planet. Jason’s interest in history and the patterns of human behaviour is now contextualized through the modern age, where life feels more advanced than ever, but entirely impermanent; denial as well as a belief in engineering and technology give us false comfort as we confront unfamiliar challenges.
Jason holds a Masters Degree in History from Queen’s University. He is a fellow International of the Explorers Club and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. He is a TEDx 2021 speaker, and is represented as an artist around the world. Large scale commissions from Fortune 500 companies, the Government of the Netherlands and other institutional and collectors drive his fine art practice. His work as a visual artist has been profiled by National Geographic, Fast Company, Outside Magazine, The Explorers Journal; and his film work has aired on networks around the world including CNN, BBC, PBS, CBS, CBC, and SRF1, and has been shown at some of North America’s s most prestigious film festivals. His commercial work is infused with documentary process and seeks out deeply human narratives while demonstrating a clear appreciation for the natural world and our shifting role within it. His work has been profiled and awarded by the Cannes Lions, Cios, Applied Arts, Communication Arts, ADCC, Shoots, PDN and numerous international award shows. Jason was named as one of the Top 10 Commercial Directors in the World by the Cannes Festival for Creativity's Talent Report in 2023, as well as one of the "people shaping the future of Creativity" His work won the top honours in Fast Company’s List of “50 World Changing ideas” in 2024.
A BITTERSWEET ENDING
Directed by James Stapledon
Short Documentary - Australia - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 7m 29s
Synopsis
The story of the Mossman Cane farmers and their struggle in the industry with the closure of the Mossman Mill.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Documentary Short Subject - James Stapledon
Director's Biography
James, a dynamic freelance cinematographer hailing from Brisbane Strathpine, Queensland, immerses himself in the vibrant world of visual storytelling. Specializing in corporate videography for various organizations, he also lends his creative talents to crafting captivating short films, TV commercials, and engaging web content.
With a versatile skill set that spans across roles such as Director of Photography, Director, and Producer, James is no stranger to the diverse demands of the industry. Yet, his journey extends beyond traditional roles, as he effortlessly transitions into low-budget sound recording, writing, lighting as a gaffer, and the intricate art of editing.
Driven by a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact through his craft, James finds his calling in the realm of documentary filmmaking for social change. As he merges his passion for storytelling with a purpose-driven approach, James embarks on a mission to shed light on pressing issues and inspire positive transformation through the lens of his camera.
A FATEFUL WEEKEND
Directed by Tony Doupe
Short Film - United States - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 13m
Synopsis
The weekend of JFK's assassination as seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy. With minimal understanding of "the President" he tries to process the sadness that consumes his mother, grandparents, and the people across the nation grieving on the news. The weekend contrasts the tragic loss of a beloved President while finding some semblance of normalcy and joy as the family celebrates his little brother's sixth birthday the very next day.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Art Direction
A GUEST IN MY COUNTRY
Directed by John Gray
Short Film - United States - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 15m 26s
Synopsis
An immigrant Ubër driver takes an upscale couple across town, and the drama that unfolds among them reveals truths they all would have preferred stayed hidden.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Director - John Gray
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best International Short Film - Melissa Jo Peltier
⭐ Best Lead Performance - Bayo Akinfemi
Director's Biography
John Gray is a New York and Massachussetts based writer-director-producer. He created the long running hit CBS series, GHOST WHISPERER, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, as well as writing and directing many award-winning and critically acclaimed movies for television, such as MARTIN AND LEWIS, starring Sean Hayes and Jeremy Northam; the Emmy® nominated A PLACE FOR ANNIE with Sissy Spacek; the Emmy® nominated mini-series HAVEN with Natasha Richardson and Anne Bancroft; HELTER SKELTER with Clea DuVall and Bruno Kirby, and many others. Gray has directed dozens of episodes of broadcast and cable series and was also the producing director of the CBS series RECKLESS. He has written and directed several studio and independent feature films, including the award winning WHITE IRISH DRINKERS, starring Stephen Lang and Karen Allen, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Gray’s acclaimed short films have played and are currently in film festivals all over the world including FRENCH KISS, which has notched 6.3 million views to date on YouTube. His first novel, the supernatural thriller THE DESECRATED, was published in July 2022. Follow him on Twitter @JThomasGray, or Instagram @bayrdge, visit him at JohnGrayOfficial.com
A MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR
Directed by Andrey Goulter
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 16m 29s
Synopsis
After a lonely 12 year old boy stumbles upon a book that gives him the power to control his life and make his wishes come to existence, he realises what is truly important about life and destiny.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Student Short Film - Lachlan Scott
⭐ Best Visual Effects - Owen Douglas
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Cinematography - Owen Douglas
⭐ Best Director - Andrey Goulter
⭐ Best Youth Performance - Jake Cockburn
☑️ CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION - Youth Performance - Jake Cockburn
Director's Biography
Andrey Goulter is a Director passionate about creating films that entertain audiences with wonder, warmth, and a lot of heart, through themes that question and challenge perspectives on life. He is best known for his award-winning short film 'Feather', and his recently completed short film 'A Message to the Author', having just graduated from Griffith Film School. He sees film as a powerful art form and is dedicated to crafting stories that leave a lasting emotional impact.
A ROYAL IN PARADISE: A ROYAL IN PARADISE II
Directed by Adrian Powers
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 1h 24m 38s
Synopsis
Nearly a year after finding love in paradise, writer, Olivia Perkins, and Prince Alexander are stronger than ever...or so they thought. In reality, Olivia barely gets to see Alexander due to his new job. On top of this, Olivia struggles to decide if her much-anticipated novel should end with the marriage proposal everyone is hoping for. In an attempt to fix her worries, Olivia and her parents travel to the European nation of Torovia with Alexander to celebrate the Christmas season. Unfortunately, her problems only get bigger. Will Olivia be able to get her happily ever after like in all her books?
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Film - Stephen Jaggi & Kylie Pascoe
⭐ Best Sound & Music
Director's Biography
Adrian Powers is an Australian film director, screenwriter and editor, with nearly two decades of experience spanning hundreds of productions. Adrian's work has been showcased at prestigious global festivals like Cannes, Austin and Venice, and he was described by filmmaker Ridley Scott as a "talent for the industry to watch". After graduating from the International Film School Sydney, Adrian immediately began work on his debut feature project, the WWI action thriller 'Forbidden Ground' (which was later acquired by Lionsgate Films). Since then, he has gone on to co-write and direct the hit rom-com 'A Royal in Paradise', its sequel 'A Royal Proposal', and the Netflix global #1 hit 'Love is in the Air', which amassed over 12 million views in its first week and became the most-watched Australian film on Netflix in 2023. In addition to directing, Adrian has edited 15 feature films, contributed as a writer to the Netflix original series 'Dive Club', and created the award-winning short 'Brolga', which was selected for cultural preservation by the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Beyond film and television, his commercial portfolio includes work for top-tier brands such as Apple, QANTAS, Uber, Yves Saint Laurent, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, and Google. Adrian holds both Australian and Italian citizenship, and currently resides in Sydney, Australia.
AL WADIAA
Directed by Hedy Krissane
Short Film - Italy, Tunisia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 10m 55s
Synopsis
In the West Bank, a young girl embarks on a tender journey to save her grandparents' olive tree, a symbol of love, memory, and resistance, threatened by destruction.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Youth Performance - Yosr Nenni
Director's Biography
Hedy Krissane is a Tunisian-Italian director. His career spans both Italy and Tunisia, where he has developed, written, and directed various projects, showcasing a deep understanding of cinematic language and storytelling.
Krissane began his career in the audiovisual sector by directing short films that gained recognition at international festivals as Festival de Cannes, Torino Film Festival and Venice. His distinctive style blends strong narratives with a refined visual aesthetic, focusing on themes of cultural identity, human relationships, and social issues.
ALL ABOUT VALERIE
Directed by Nick Kozakis
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 17m 45s
Synopsis
Valerie Broom is a celebrated musical theatre superstar but her career feels like it's slipping out of her fingers as motherhood takes priority and her much younger understudy vies to take her place on stage. Although she has a wonderful family and the support of her novelist husband, she's not willing to sacrifice her career.
To take the pressure off and support them as full time working parents, the Broom's hire a live-in nanny, Grace. She is the epitome of an ingenue but Valerie quickly realises that Grace isn't what she seems and begins to resent her presence when their family dynamics shift and she loses grip
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Short Film - Carlia Capozza
Director's Biography
Nick Kozakis, director and editor at Visible Studios, is a 3x ARIA nominated and ADG nominated director, helming projects with some of Australia's most talented creatives. Nick most recently has directed his second feature film, “Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism,” which has been acquired for North American distribution by XYZ Films, with Coven as the global sales agent for rest of world. Godless has played at many prestigious festivals, including but not limited to MIFF and Sitges where it won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ for best film. It had its world premiere at Overlook Film Festival in March 2023 and is now a Tubi Original. Nick has directed three proof of concepts; Hunter, Interface, and Help. Hunter was well-received in the festival circuit, also screening at Cannes Film Festival in 2016. Nick's portfolio includes many notable music videos (such as Dance Monkey for Tones And I which has over 2 billion YouTube views) and commercials across a vast array of genres and media platforms.
ANGEL
Written by Duncan Peake
Short Screenplay - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Pages - 13
Synopsis
After returning home at night, JENNA, a catholic school girl, suspects that something malignant is lurking around her mother's apartment, waiting.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Short Screenplay - Duncan Peake
ASTRONOMERS (WEB SERIES "ABOUT PEOPLE AND WAR")
Directed by Dmitry Pasichnyuk
Short Film - Russia - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 13m 45s
Synopsis
Только один солдат знает тайну старинного немецкого собора. Но и у тайны есть своя тайна.
Only one soldier knows the secret of the ancient German cathedral. But the mystery also has its own secret.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Art Direction
⭐ Best Director - Dmitry Pasichnyuk
⭐ Best International Short Film - Anna Chizhova
⭐ Best Sound & Music
⭐ Best Youth Performance - Mark Murashkin
BEFORE THE DAWN
Directed by Alexander Denysenko
Music Video - Ukraine - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 7m
Synopsis
Set in a picturesque Ukrainian village in the midst of the 19th century, the film revolves around themes of love, loss, despair, and hope. In the heart of a young girl, true love blossomed, which, however, led to the darkest night in her life… The story that repeats from generation to generation. Will the young, vulnerable soul manage to break this vicious cycle?
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Music Video - Alexander Denysenko
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Art Direction
⭐ Best Cinematography - Oleksiy Leskov
⭐ Best Film Editing - Lukasz Szwarc-Bronikowski
☑️ CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION - Cinematography - Oleksiy Leskov
Director's Biography
The author and director is Alexander Denysenko, an art visionary and recipient of 30+ international awards; a protégé of Academy Award-winning director Andrzej Wajda and Academy-nominated DOP Slawomir Idziak; a member of the Polish Film Academy (PFA).
Alexander's previous film "Wonderwall," reimagining the Chernobyl theme, gained widespread global recognition: 28 international awards, participation in competitive programs at 70+ film festivals across 25 countries.
BINGO MAN
Written by Chris Beadnell
Feature Screenplay - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Pages - 110
Synopsis
When young girls vanish from a quiet Australian town, a disgraced detective hunts a known predator while a lonely child relies on her imaginary friend for protection. But her unseen guardian guards a truth more chilling than anyone could ever suspect.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Screenplay
Writer's Biography
Chris Beadnell is a filmmaker based in Gubbi Gubbi country on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. With over a decade of screenwriting experience and multiple international awards, he made his directorial debut with The Note, earning accolades including Best Screenplay at the 2024 International Film Festival of Australia. He has since directed Blue Rockpools and Bingo Man (short film) and served as assistant director on Clockwork. Shaped by his years as a paramedic, his work explores the beauty, tragedy, and irony of life, influenced by his connection to Australia’s rich cultural history, including his Indigenous heritage. An active member of the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, Chris continues to develop his craft with his sights set on writing and directing a limited series or feature film.
CHICKEN BROTH SOUP
Directed by Deniz Büyükkırlı
Short Film - Turkey - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 18m
Synopsis
The doctor comes across unusual symptoms at the man said to have died of a heart attack when he examined the corpse.He decides to refer the body to forensic medicine. Thereupon, the mans wife confesses; she said poisoned her husband, who constantly beat her. A big surprise awaits the doctor, who has to make a vital decision for the woman.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Director - Deniz Büyükkırlı
⭐ Best International Short Film - Soner Sert
⭐ Best Lead Performance - Name Önal
⭐ Best Supporting Performance - Erol Babaoğlu
☑️ CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION - International Short Film
Director's Biography
Film screenwriter and director. She wrote many TV series scripts that were broadcast all over the world between 2012 and 2022. Chicken Broth Soup is her first short film, which she wrote and directed.
CLOCKWORK
Directed by Ross Luttrell
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 15m 47s
Synopsis
A family owned woodwork shop is on the brink of closure. Owner and father, Pierre, is faced with a heavy decision - to continue the family legacy or risk losing all they have achieved.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Queensland Short Film - Ross Luttrell, Joshua Roberts
Director's Biography
Ross Luttrell is a 27 year old writer and director based out of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. From an early age, his passion for creating and sharing stories has shaped his creative endeavours. In his early teens he used photography to pair his story-telling to a visual medium. After experiencing many cultures and countries throughout his late teens and 20s, Ross has dedicated his experience, inspiration and ideas to the passion he has for filmmaking. His short film 'Clockwork' will mark his directional and producing debut.
CONQUERING SKIN CANCER
Directed by Mike Hill
Feature Documentary - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 1h 30m 22s
Synopsis
Conquering Skin Cancer is not your average documentary; it’s a compelling social impact film with a mission to prevent skin cancer.
In a country where the “bronzed Aussie” image has led to more skin cancer deaths than road accident fatalities, the World Health Organisation predicts a staggering 68% increase in melanoma deaths by 2040. But this is not set in stone. And although Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world (Cancer Council); most skin cancers can be prevented.
Weaving together compelling and emotional stories from survivors,
advocates, and world-leading experts, the second instalment in the
international Conquering Cancer Campaign delves into how every body can live safely under the sun.
Conquering Skin Cancer features prominent and beloved voices in this important space. Faces you might recognise include 2024 Australians of the Year Professors Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long, Australian media icon Deborah Hutton, Olympian Cate Campbell, World Champion Surfer Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, and beloved Australian actor Hugh Jackman.
Inspirational activists such as Jay Allen (Australia Skin Cancer Foundation), Tamara Dawson (Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network), Scott Maggs (Skin Check Champions) and Anne Gately (Author, “Sunburnt”) also feature, sharing their personal stories in the pursuit of positive change.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Feature - Mike Hill, Sue Collins
Director's Biography
Mike is a multi-award winning filmmaker and content creator. He is passionate about crafting memorable screen stories that inspire change and create positive impact.
A graduate of the prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Mike founded impact film production house Moonshine Agency in 2010.
Mike’s past film work has released theatrically, in major film festivals and been broadcast on dozens of networks around the world, including ABC, SBS, Fox, Al Jazeera and Amazon Prime. His commercial projects have appeared on all free-to-air commercial broadcasters.
CROC COUNTRY
Directed by Sinéad Reynolds
Short Documentary - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 20m 55s
Synopsis
In tropical North Queensland, locals must share the coast with saltwater crocodiles, one of nature’s most successful apex predators. With fatalities on both sides of the conflict, is it possible to achieve a peaceful co-existence between man and ‘monster’?
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Short Subject - Sinéad Reynolds
DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND
Directed by Halle Sullivan, John Steele
Short Film - United States - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 11m 22s
Synopsis
In the quirky suburban neighborhood of Devil's Playground, multiple children, including Molly's daughter Zoe, have gone missing. As Molly grapples with the devastating loss, she faces a choice: continue her relentless search for Zoe or succumb to the temptation of forgetting her grim reality and moving on. Molly must navigate the eerie landscape of her community while confronting her own inner demons. As she dives deeper into the mystery, she discovers unsettling truths that challenge her perception of both her neighborhood and herself. In this gripping story of loss, resilience, and the struggle for closure, Molly's journey explores the darkest corners of truth and illusion.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Supporting Performance - Michael Silberblatt
DISCO DOLLS AND CHIKO ROLLS
Directed by Alexandros Kalas
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 15m 57s
Synopsis
In 1980s Brisbane, Australia, a passionate romance blooms between Ari, a Greek rockabilly, and Shelley, a Gothic Australian. But when an overcooked Chiko Roll sets off a cultural clash, it fuels family tensions and puts their love to the ultimate test.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Art Direction
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Student Short Film - Lucas Ryan
Director's Biography
Alexandros Kalas is an emerging filmmaker based in Brisbane (Meanjin), Australia, known for his visually compelling work with local bands, including a documentary on Subpop Records band Girl and Girl. His debut short film, Disco Dolls and Chiko Rolls, draws from his father’s memoirs of growing up in 1980s Australia, exploring themes of racial tension, romance, and family. With a focus on cultural storytelling, Alex brings fresh perspectives to the screen, amplifying marginalized voices and examining the complexities of generational conflict.
ELASTOPLASTIC
Directed by Jack Vernon
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 25m
Synopsis
A broke woman selling home-brew poison must stop a hitman from using her product to kill her sister’s primary school teacher — before the murder and her secret collide.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Film Editing - Axel Tacey
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Queensland Short Film - Jack Vernon
⭐ Best Sound & Music
Director's Biography
Jack Vernon is an emerging Brisbane based writer and director known for his stylistic, genre twisting approach to filmmaking.
At Griffith Film School, he wrote and directed "A Heart for Vendetta," which was accepted into 17 national and international festivals, and took home 3 awards for Best Student Film, Best Romance and Best First Time Director. Since graduating with honours in 2022, Jack has built up a body of work shooting fashion and fitness commercials, music videos and experimental projects.
His latest narrative project, Elastoplastic, is currently running the festival circuit. Jack is now writing his first feature length script, with other short films and commercial work in the pipeline.
EUGENE O'NEILL'S - THE FIRST MAN
Directed by Hardeep Giani
Feature Film - United Kingdom - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 2h
Synopsis
This is the first-ever film adaptation of The First Man - an early and rare story from the pen of Nobel laureate and Pulitzer prize winner, Eugene O'Neill.
This psychological romantic drama set in 1920s Connecticut, delves into themes of obsession, grief and betrayal.
World renowned anthropologist Curtis is consumed by grief over his young daughters' deaths. He finds solace in immersing himself in preparations for his upcoming expedition to Asia, where he aims to unravel the mystery of "The First Man." However, he must confront an undercurrent of family conflict as he battles against his relatives' unsettling suspicions that his wife Martha is carrying his best friend Bigelow's child.
100 years after it was first published, Pulitzer and Nobel literature award winning writer Eugene O’Neill’s 1920’s story - ‘The First Man’ has been lovingly crafted as a feature film by a team of UK based film-makers led by auteur director Hardeep Giani - and this is his very first Feature film.
Director and Producer Hardeep Giani explains his vision:
'Eugene O’neill’s incredible script was a pleasure to make into a feature film.
What we wanted to do was to make this independent film for a modern audience – to produce a story examining the conflict of love in an environment of social and family prejudice, and how a bereavement can inflict psychosis in a grieving father.'
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Art Direction
Director's Biography
Hardeep Giani is a renowned Director and Producer in Film and Television. He has worked for the BBC, Channel 4, Talkback, RDF and Silver River television companies. Having studied film directing in New York at the NYFA and Motion Picture Pro - he has also gained qualifications from NFTS, London Film School, Raindance and Dov-Simens Producers course. His Short films Rose, Mary and Time, If You Go Away and The Years of Laughter and Forgetting have won numerous awards at film festivals. His long form documentary 'F**K It, It's Over' also won many awards at film festivals and he directed the TV documentary 'Megan and Harry: A Revolutionary Romance'. His First Feature 'Eugene O'Neill's - The First Man' is due for release in 2025.
FAMISHED MAMMON
Directed by Vicky Kapetanopoulou
Music Video - Greece - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 7m 41s
Synopsis
A surreal visual journey through the decay of greed, "Famished Mammon" explores a world consumed by desire and haunted by its own hunger.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Music Video - Vicky Kapetanopoulou
⭐ Best Visual Effects - Thomas Doukinitsas
Director's Biography
Vicky, vocalist and lyricist of the progressive soundtrack band Part of The Theory, makes her directorial debut with the band’s first music video, Famished Mammon. With a background in theatre studies and a strong instinct for visual storytelling, she brings a symbolic, ritualistic aesthetic to the screen. Deeply involved in every aspect of the production, Vicky approaches filmmaking as an extension of musical and theatrical expression. Famished Mammon reflects her fascination with themes of greed, decay, and spiritual hunger.
FOREVER FIRST LOVE
Directed by Luke Mayze
Feature Film - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 7m 41s
Synopsis
Set against the beauty of a baroque Filipino town, FOREVER FIRST LOVE is a modern romance where the past meets the future. Paul is an international photographer who travels the world to capture the perfect photographic moment. Amid the colour and chaos of a crowded Filipino market, destiny intervenes when Paul’s first love, Anna appears in his lens. The traveler's spend the day exploring the beauty of the 16th century town and whilst passions reignite, their principles on relationships, religion and morality clash. The night they spend together will change everything.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Cinematography -Shing Fung Cheung
⭐ Best Feature Film - Luke Mayze, Carmel Savage & Janelle Rayner
⭐ Best Sound & Music
☑️ CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION - Sound & Music
HOT WATER - INVESTIGATING AUSTRALIA'S MARINE ECOSYSTEM
Directed by Ash Dunn
Feature Documentary - Australia - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 51
Synopsis
Hot Water is an inspiring documentary uncovering Australia’s marine wonders, the eco-heroes protecting them, and how we can all fight rising ocean water acidity in our daily lives.
Get inspired by this fun and vibrant journey across Tasmania, Victoria, and Queensland, where passionate scientists, divers, fishos, conservationists, and aquaculture farmers are all playing a role in benefiting our marine environment into the future.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Feature - Tim Whybrow
Director's Biography
I have worked in the Television Industry since 1994. Originally a sound recordist, my interest in the industry saw me quickly move into the areas of Lighting Camera Operator and Non Linear Editor.
My primary area of work over the past 25 years has been as Camera Operator and Non Linear Editor for Australian and USA Networks.
I have over 15 years experience as an Outside Broadcast Camera Operator both here in Australia and in the USA, for Channel 9, Fox Sports, Channel 10 and Global TV for sports including AFL, Rugby League, Cricket, Swimming, Boxing, and Motor Racing.
In 2006 I moved into the role of shooting Reality and Documentary Programs for Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet, BBC, History Channel, TNT, Channel 7 Australia, and Lonely Planet.
I received recognition for my camera work on Animal Planet’s “Whale Wars” Season 1, Season 2, and Season 3 in the form of 3 Emmy Nominations for “Outstanding Cinematography in a non-fiction program”.
HOWARD TANGYE
Directed by Emilie Grubert
Short Documentary - Belgium - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 24m 16s
Synopsis
This intimate portrait captures the life and work of Howard Tangye, a celebrated Australian artist who has lived and worked in London since the late 1960s. Renowned for his evocative drawings, Tangye reflects on his journey from a childhood in Mount Isa, Australia, to becoming Head of Women's Wear at Central Saint Martins, where he mentored luminaries like John Galliano and Stella McCartney.
Filmed in his North London atelier, the film follows Tangye as he creates a new drawing, his voice narrating a mosaic of personal memories: discovering his passion for art, the transformative experience of studying in London, and the liberating exuberance of the gay scene in 1970s New York. Against the backdrop of his evolving artwork, Tangye speaks with disarming honesty about love, loss, and the enduring importance of looking within—both in art and life.
Accompanied by an original soundscape by the Danish composer Sol Over Neon, 'Howard Tangye - A Portrait of an Artist' offers a poignant meditation on creativity, beauty, and the artist's role in preserving the fragile dreams that inspire us all.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Short Subject - Emilie Grubert
Director's Biography
Originally from Denmark, Emilie Grubert is a multidisciplinary designer based in Bruges in Belgium. Emilie’s path first led her to London, where she earned a First-class Honours Degree in Women’s Wear from Central Saint Martins in 2008, and in 2014, she deepened her practice with a Master’s Degree with Distinction from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art and Design.
Emilie has lived and worked in cities around the world, from London and Paris to Singapore and Shanghai. During her time in Shanghai, she served as academic leader, designer, and senior lecturer at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art.
As a designer, Emilie’s work revolves around storytelling, brought to life through moving image, large-scale 3D illustrations, and wearable art. Her collaborations with artists, musicians, and choreographers have been featured in music videos and exhibitions across Europe.
A self-taught filmmaker, Emilie’s debut documentary, 'Howard Tangye - A Portrait of an Artist', explores the life and philosophy of the artist Howard Tangye. The film marks a significant step in Emilie’s multidisciplinary journey, blending her passion for art and design with her love for storytelling and moving images.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Directed by Joel Stephen Fleming
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 12m 3s
Synopsis
A struggling musician’s first ‘real job’ is revealed to be a corporate nightmare, where employees are forced to feign happiness or end up as prey to their evil boss.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Short Film - Sian Fleming
Director's Biography
Joel is an award-winning filmmaker from Brisbane, Australia, with a slate of feature films and series projects currently in development with Screen Queensland.
These Include Horror/Comedy Followers, Continuance Pictures, slated to commence production November 2025 and Action/Drama Fighting Spirits, Wirrim Media currently in development.
Their work as a writer has seen them connect with some incredible industry mentors. During a Screen Australia funded development of their television project, The‘C’ Word, Joel worked alongside Creative Producer and current Head of Scripted at SBS, Julie Eckersley (The Family Law, SBS) and seasoned Screenwriter Roger Monk (Nowhere Boys, STAN).
In 2024, Joel co-directed Outpost which was officially selected at Darwin International Film Festival. Their latest short film Voyager was just officially selected at the Beverly Hills Film Festival this April.
Recently, one of Joel's previous short film works Night Fill was picked up by Screambox to be part of the subscription platforms 'Bloody Bites' section, for short horror content.'
In 2025 Sian and Joel (13th Street Films) have received production funding from Screen Queensland for their comedy series AUSTR-ASIAN co-created by and starring Shuang Hu (@theoneshu).
I THINK I NEED THERAPY - KEVIN SILVESTER
Directed by Nick Kozakis
Music Video - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 3m 26s
Synopsis
Kevin finds himself trapped in a surreal and haunting struggle — everyone he connects with ends up dead.
As he performs his track “I Think I Need Therapy,” we follow Kevin on a darkly twisted journey through encounters with friends, lovers, and strangers. Each interaction begins innocently enough, but ends in tragedy, leaving Kevin to question his reality, his sanity, and whether he’s cursed… or something far more disturbing.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Film Editing - Nick Kozakis
⭐ Best Music Video - Tim Whiting
⭐ Best Visual Effects - Tim Whiting
Director's Biography
Nick Kozakis, director and editor at Visible Studios, is an award-winning director with 4 ARIA nominations and 1 ARIA win, as well as an ADG nomination, known for helming projects with some of Australia's most talented creatives. Nick most recently directed his feature film, “Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism,” which was acquired for North American distribution by XYZ Films, with Coven as the global sales agent for the rest of the world. Godless has played at many prestigious festivals, including but not limited to MIFF and Sitges where it won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ for best film. It had its world premiere at Overlook Film Festival in March 2023 and is now a Tubi Original. Godless has also been nominated for 3 x AACTA awards.
Nick's portfolio includes many notable music videos (such as 'Dance Monkey' for "Tones And I" which has over 2 billion YouTube views). With a knack for building tension and suspense, Nick has quickly become one of the most exciting and promising emerging talents in the film industry.
IF YOU SHOULD LEAVE BEFORE ME
Directed by J. Markus Anderson, B. Robert Anderson
Feature Film - United States - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 1h 59m 58s
Synopsis
Mark and Joshua, a long-term couple, discover a mysterious door hidden in their wardrobe. In this new realm, they encounter an elderly couple who have recently passed away and seek guidance to move on. Meanwhile, Joshua, who is already deceased, fears that his own door may never appear. As more doors materialize, and more souls receive the help they need to move on, a troubling truth emerges: Mark has secretly concealed Joshua’s door out of his deep-seated fear of losing him forever. This shocking betrayal shatters Joshua, plunging him into the haunting realm of lost souls. Now, Mark must confront his grief and face the unknown with courage, while recovering the enduring spirit of Joshua.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Cinematography - Daniel Watt
⭐ Best Feature Film - J. Markus & B. Robert Anderson
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Director - J. Markus Anderson and B. Robert Anderson
⭐ Best Lead Performance - Shane P. Allen
⭐ Best Sound & Music
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS
Directed by Shannon Glover
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 19m
Synopsis
A day in the life of Horace, an outback isolationist who holds within him a dark and violent secret.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Australian Short Film - Shannon Glover
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Performance - Shane Emmett
⭐ Best Film Editing - Joshua O'Sullivan
☑️ CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION - Film Editing - Joshua O'Sullivan
Director's Biography
I am a 36-year-old writer/director based in New South Wales, I draw inspiration from the likes of Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, Dennis Lehane, and Richard Matheson. My screen influences include visionary filmmakers such as David Lynch, David Cronenberg, Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Eggers, John Carpenter, and Denis Villeneuve.
Passionate and driven, I am deeply optimistic about the future of filmmaking in Australia and the stories we have yet to tell. I aim to connect with fellow filmmakers, festival organizers, and likeminded creatives to bring bold and compelling narratives to life.
KICK IN THE TEETH
Directed by Paul Bird
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 16m
Synopsis
Mark and Joshua, a long-term couple, discover a mysterious door hidden in their wardrobe. In this new realm, they encounter an elderly couple who have recently passed away and seek guidance to move on. Meanwhile, Joshua, who is already deceased, fears that his own door may never appear. As more doors materialize, and more souls receive the help they need to move on, a troubling truth emerges: Mark has secretly concealed Joshua’s door out of his deep-seated fear of losing him forever. This shocking betrayal shatters Joshua, plunging him into the haunting realm of lost souls. Now, Mark must confront his grief and face the unknown with courage, while recovering the enduring spirit of Joshua.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Queensland Short Film - Kayley Atkinson
Director's Biography
Born in Brisbane and having finished a degree in Applied Media, Paul has spent the last few years writing and shooting short films. He has had a screenplay selected as a semi finalist in the comedy category of the Austin Film Festival.
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
Directed by Romain Mongin
Feature Documentary - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 1h 22m
Synopsis
Ultra-marathon runner William Corlett attempts to run 500km in 7 days in the Blue Mountains, Australia. He's raising $200,000 for Lifeline Australia.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Feature - Romain Mongin, William Corlett and Heath Davis
Director's Biography
Romain has been working as a film and commercial editor for over 15 years in Australia and France. He also runs a video production in Sydney, Australia.
LE MANS
Directed by Elena Rosberg
Short Documentary - Austria - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 20m 21s
Synopsis
This documetary was filmed between April 18th and 20th 2024 in Le Mans, France during the European Motorcycle Championship for people with disabilities.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Short Documentary - Interzona Films
LEGEND (RESURRECTED)
Directed by Alex Hargreaves
Music Video - New Zealand - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 5m 17s
Synopsis
Polynesian metal band Shepherd’s Reign deliver a hard hitting homage to fathers and role models everywhere with new single, Legend. A stand out track from their self-titled debut album, Legend has been reworked to fuse traditional Pacific pātē drums with a tsunami of riffs and a heavy dose of double kick. Top it off with in-your-face vocals and a soaring melody and it’s a full metal onslaught, South Auckland style. It’s a sound that Shepherd’s Reign can well and truly call their own. Accompanying the single is the new video for Legend, starring another heavy hitter and legend in his own right, David Tua ONZM. “David Tua has always been a role model”, the band explains, “for all New Zealanders, and especially those from South Auckland. He’s well respected and still has one of the biggest left hooks in boxing. He was the obvious choice to approach for the video.” Shot in part at David Tua’s gym, the video is a testament to never giving up, and drawing on the strength of your identity to gain the courage to follow through – no matter how far the odds are stacked against you. The video is shot and directed by Kwasnik Pictures, the team behind the stunning videos for Alien Weaponry, Rei and Team Dynamite.
Shepherd’s Reign draw straight from the heart for inspiration, and play it as they feel it. There is nothing else like them in Aotearoa.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Music Video - Caitlin Shinnick
LOVE TO GO
Written by Bernhard Riedhammer
Short Screenplay - Denmark - Self-rated PG content guide
Pages - 15
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Short Screenplay - Bernhard Riedhammer
MAN EATER
Directed by Alexander Whitrow
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 24m 29s
Synopsis
After murdering someone in a gruesome act of self-defense, an alleged psychopath is incarcerated into an asylum where she is forced to choose between her freedom or her morality.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Australian Performance - Seraphine Harley
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Short Film - Nicholas Whitrow, Alexander Whitrow, James Withrow
Director's Biography
Alexander Whitrow is a writer/director born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia. He began writing his first feature fresh out of high school and had it wrapped at 22 years old. The film went on to achieve a theatrical run and international distribution on several popular SVOD, TVOD and streaming platforms. Since then he has studied the art of writing, improving the depth and quality of his stories and characters all the while working in varied positions on different film sets, studying the methodology of filmmaking, expanding his insight and improving his technique.
MEETING BY MISTAKE
Directed by Trung-Hai Nguyen-Le
Short Film - Vietnam - Self-rated R18+ content guide
Runtime - 17m 21s
Synopsis
Returning to her hometown after years abroad, Tiên (28) hosts a wedding reception to announce her marriage to an older Taiwanese man. Unexpectedly, she crosses paths with Kiên (30) - her former lover - who happens to be the MC of the event.
Drawn by nostalgia, Tiên invites Kiên to their old meeting place, where they reminisce about the past and reflect on how much they’ve changed. As the night unfolds, buried emotions resurface, forcing them to confront an unspoken question: Should they continue down the paths they’ve chosen, or reclaim a fleeting moment of who they once were?!
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Cinematography - Nghia Phung
Director's Biography
Nguyen Le Trung Hai, a film director who grew up amidst the constant transformations of his hometown. These changes sparked a passion for exploring how people adapt to contemporary society, with cinema becoming the chosen medium to tell these stories.
Graduated in Media Technology Management from the Faculty of Design and Arts, Hoa Sen University, Ho Chi Minh City. In 2018, attended the directing course at Autumn Meeting, under the guidance of director Trần Anh Hùng—an experience that reshaped the perception and approach to filmmaking.
Short film PAPERLAND (ĐẤT TRÊN GIẤY) was selected for S-Express 2020, screening across nine Southeast Asian countries.
NINE WAYS TO KILL BARRY
Written by Lisa Rufus
Short Screenplay - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Pages - 16
Synopsis
After a devastating break-up, Lucy finds an unusual way to get over her ex.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Short Screenplay - Lisa Rufus
OUTER REACHES
Directed by Karl Redgen
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 12m 20s
Synopsis
Two space explorers crash-land on a desolate planet during their mission to find a new home for humanity. Their hopes unravel when they discover the planet is inhabited by a voracious swarm of sentient microorganisms, with one explorer becoming a host for the alien agenda. As the infection spreads, the commander is faced with an agonizing decision: sacrifice himself to halt the menace or unleash it upon the universe.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Visual Effects - Nipan Studio
Director's Biography
Karl Redgen is an accomplished filmmaker and writer hailing from Melbourne, Australia. With an unwavering passion for the art of storytelling, Karl has dedicated his career to crafting immersive and thought-provoking films that captivate audiences worldwide.
For the past six years, Karl has honed his craft as a 1AD in the thriving Australian film industry. His meticulous attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills have made him an invaluable asset in numerous film productions, ensuring seamless coordination and efficient execution of creative visions.
In addition to his role as an AD, Karl has nurtured a love for writing and storytelling. His ability to develop multi-layered narratives sets him apart as a talented writer, with a keen understanding of the power of storytelling to provoke emotions and explore complex themes.
Driven by an unyielding passion for his craft, Karl continues to explore new avenues for storytelling, pushing the boundaries of cinematic artistry. With a remarkable portfolio and a strong vision, he is poised to leave an indelible mark on the world of filmmaking, captivating audiences with his distinctive storytelling style and unwavering dedication to creating unforgettable experiences.
OVER AND OUT
Written by Callie Currence
Short Screenplay - United States - Self-rated PG content guide
Pages - 11
Synopsis
After being abandoned in a remote forest, a neurodivergent boy stumbles upon a derelict cabin and uses its dusty CB radio to make contact with a stranded man on Lake Superior. What begins as a cry for help becomes a lifeline between two lost souls who must work together to survive the night.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Short Screenplay - Callie Currence
Writer's Biography
Callie Currence (formerly LeClaire) is a Korean-American screenwriter from Minnesota whose work blends grounded emotion with a flair for the unsettling. Her debut short screenplay, Over and Out—a tender, storm-soaked survival story about connection and neurodivergence—hit #1 on Coverfly’s Short Screenplay list and held a spot on the Red List. It has since earned multiple honors, including a WorldFest-Houston Platinum Remi Award, Best Short Screenplay from the Reale Film Festival, and the Film Crash award for Dramatic Short Screenplay.
Callie’s writing is known for its emotional honesty, sharp genre instincts, and characters who live with one foot in the real world and one in the dark. Whether she’s exploring horror, psychological drama, or offbeat romance, her stories often center on survival, grief, and what it means to be seen for who you truly are. She’s been recognized as a finalist in the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, and was runner-up in the Minnesota Film Fest Pitch Competition.
Her goal? To write stories that unsettle you and stay with you long after the lights turn back on.
OXYGEN STATION
Directed by Ivan Tymchenko
Feature Film - Ukraine - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 1h 46m 27s
Synopsis
1980, USSR, Crimean Tatar activist Mustafa Jemilev, exiled to the remote settlement of Zyryanka in Siberia, is forced to work at an oxygen station. Mustafa, who had been exiled as a child from his homeland of Crimea, continues to fight for the rights of his people, despite being imprisoned for 303 days after a hunger strike. The prosecutor, Ehor Shalandin, sees Mustafa as a threat to the Soviet regime and travels to Zyryanka to eliminate him.
Amidst this, Crimean Tatar woman Safinar, inspired by Mustafa’s resilience, leaves everything behind to meet him and bring him support and love. When a journalist is murdered in Zyryanka, Mustafa is accused, but his fight for freedom remains unbroken. In this tense struggle, the battle between oppressive state power and the unyielding human spirit is set to ignite, proving that the true freedom lies within.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Art Direction
⭐ Best Cinematography - Thomas Stokowski
⭐ Best Feature Film - Svitlana Soloviova
Director's Biography
Ivan Tymchenko was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, into a family of artists—his father is a renowned cinematographer, and his grandparents were painters. Ivan began his career as a photojournalist and commercial photographer before transitioning to filmmaking in 2009. He initially worked as a Director of Photography (DOP), later taking on the role of directing DOP, and eventually becoming a director.
His debut feature, Beshoot (2019), a war action drama, was released in Ukraine and gained international acclaim. Ivan’s second feature, Oxygen Station (2023), premiered in the official competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and won a Special Jury Mention for Best Director at the Odesa International Film Festival. The film continues its successful festival run.
PIERRE WEST
Directed by Henrik Larsson, Jakob Arevärn
Short Film - Sweden - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 28m 56s
Synopsis
One day Pierre's TV breaks down, what at first seems like another setback will soon take him down a new road.
Pierre West is a drama about hope and darkness, filmed over 17 years.
Through Pierre’s isolated life and his unjust struggle with trauma, the film explores emotions that arise when the light at the end of the tunnel seems so very far away
A character-driven portrayal balancing hardships and inner demons with humor and longing.
In an existence without compassion – how long can Pierre endure?
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best International Short Film - Henrik Larsson, Jakob Arevärn
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Director - Henrik Larsson and Jakob Arevärn
⭐ Best Lead Performance - Tomas Hartwig
⭐ Best Supporting Performance - Alexandra Lindqvist
☑️ CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION - Lead Performance - Tomas Hartwig
Director's Biography
Henrik Larsson & Jakob Arevärn are childhood friends who grew up making short films together. Nowadays they both work in filmmaking.
PICKAXE
Written by Adrian Eric Barker
Feature Screenplay - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Pages - 101
Synopsis
During a gold rush more than gold can be stolen.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Screenplay
PRECURSOR
Written by Steve Brown
Feature Screenplay - United States - Self-rated M content guide
Pages - 60
Synopsis
When a series of natural disasters and unnatural phenomena wreak havoc across the globe, a group of unlikely allies must come together to confront a mysterious faction determined to engineer the very end of the world.
In the same vein as LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND and KNOCK AT THE CABIN.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Screenplay
Writer's Biography
Steve Brown, a graduate of the UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting, holds dual degrees in Journalism and English from the University of Arizona. In 2023, he transitioned from corporate copywriting (for popular brands such as Nintendo and Kaplan Test Prep) to pursue his passion for film and TV. Today, he dedicates his time entirely to screenwriting and maintains a focus on mysterious, cerebral, sci-fi storytelling. Steve’s works, while always grounded in science, take a deep dive into quantum physics, collective consciousness, astrophysics, mysticism, ancient symbology, and more.
In less than two years, Steve has garnered more than 175 awards. He recently won both the Richmond International Film Festival Screenplay Competition and NexTV Writing & Pitch Competition with his two latest one-hour TV scripts: PRECURSOR and THE AGE OF THE EMPATH. He has also been a finalist in many other competitions, including: Cinequest Film Festival, Vail Film Festival, Writers X Writers, Filmmatic Inroads Fellowship, Dallas International Film Festival, and Script Summit, among others.
READING OF THE WILL
Written by Amanda Louise Lay
Short Screenplay - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Pages - 18
Synopsis
Allison and Doug have a wonderful life except for one small problem, Allison’s grandma, Margaret. A cantankerous old lady who hates Doug and is determined to break them up. She guilts Allison into taking her on every holiday. She almost gets the last word by dying in Doug’s caravan in France. Doug recounts his tale of woe to the lawyer. The will is read. Doug discovers how much Margaret hated him. For Allison to inherit her money she must divorce Doug. Will she choose her marriage or the millions?
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Short Screenplay - Amanda Louise Lay
Writer's Biography
Amanda has been writing stories since she was in high school. Recently she had a couple of ten-minute plays short listed in the Short and Sweet Festival in Brisbane and Sydney. She was asked to write a play for a local theatre group. It is now being workshopped for the stage. In 2021 she applied to the Faber Write a Novel course with Teacher’s Pet and has completed stages one and two.
When she isn’t writing Amanda is a taxi for three children. She runs her own business but nowadays leaves that to her husband. Writing is a lot more fun.
SANCTIFIED
Directed by Caitlin Shinnick
Music Video - Italy - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 4m 53s
Synopsis
“Sanctified” is the third single taken from the new Deathless legacy album “Damnatio Aeterna”, to be released on March 7 by Scarlet Records – “Sanctified” is about trauma processing and the scars it leaves behind. A transformation of pain into strength, of wounds into perseverance. It speaks of faith shattered, silence endured, and the slow, sacred process of reclaiming oneself through the very marks left by suffering.
Directed by Frater Orion, the video for “Sanctified” conjures a ritualistic portrayal of suffering embraced as a passage to something greater. Through eerie aesthetics and visceral storytelling, it unveils a journey where torment is no longer a weight to bear, but a path to inner awakening.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Music Video - Andrea Falaschi
Director's Biography
Andrea Falaschi, aka Frater Orion, is an Italian director specialized in occult, macabre, and horror productions. Founder of the theatrical horror metal band Deathless Legacy, he merges cinematic storytelling with a deep fascination for esotericism, ritual, and the darker side of human nature.
With a background in both music and visual arts, his work blends symbolic imagery, practical effects, and atmospheric tension. His films explore themes of transformation, forbidden knowledge, and spiritual decay, aiming to disturb, provoke, and mesmerize.
Falaschi’s unique style combines a raw, analog aesthetic with precise visual composition, echoing the influence of European horror traditions while forging a personal and unmistakable language.
SEARCH FOR HAWAIKI
Directed by Fredrick Jozef Hoani Teteira Pokai
Short Film - New Zealand - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 19m
Synopsis
Search for Hawaiki follows the struggle of Fable as he integrates back into society after some time away in a psychiatric unit. Upon being entrusted to the guardianship of his younger sibling, Fable stumbles upon an ancient tide chart, setting out on a quest to find inner tranquillity, seek redemption, and re-establish a bond with his distant son, guided by the aroha and manaaki of his whānau.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Lead Performance - Maaka Pohatu
Director's Biography
Fredrick Pokai is a writer, actor, and director based in Auckland, New Zealand. Fred entered the creative industry as a painter before his time as a professional wreslter/sports entertainer. He then made his official transition to film in 2011 as an extra, to supporting and leading roles. In 2022 Fred decided to focus his energy on writing and directing when he bought his film Search For Hawaiki. Since then he has written and directed a rom-com and a sci-fi thriller.
SEEK (四十九)
Directed by Shane Kosugi
Feature Film - Japan - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 1h 33m
Synopsis
Kyohei Aizawa, an assassin for a covert non-governmental espionage group in Japan called "四十九" or "SEEK", is grieving over the loss of his girlfriend from a tragic plane accident.
The leader of “SEEK”,Ryo Mikumo, contacts him for an emergency mission; save a fellow agent, recover a new highly explosive liquid called “RDX@“, stop a ruthless Yakuza leader, Sojiro Kotsuki, and his gang before they take over Japan.
Although the Ninjas were thought to have disappeared...the new breed of assassins live on helping to protect Japan and all that is right; the Ninjas are coming soon.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Film - Shane Kosugi
SHE WORE BLUE
Directed by Madeline Davies
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 14m 59s
Synopsis
A powerful story of resilience, healing, and the triumph of love over trauma.
She Wore Blue is a punch-in-the-guts yet hopeful short drama, that explores fragmented memory and one woman’s experience of overcoming trauma. The film dances between two timelines; volatile fifteen-year-old Elsie who decides to keep her sexual assault a secret, and present-day Elsie, a young woman struggling with true intimacy in a new relationship. Through rapid eye movement therapy, she reclaims her body and rewrites her story.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Performance - Izzy Ford
☑️ Certificate of Distinction - Australian Performance - Izzy Ford
Director's Biography
Madeline Davies is a Melbourne based actor and filmmaker. The last couple of years she has worked as a casting professional at Chameleon Casting and NBC Universal and she has worked in production on La Brea , 'Til You Make It, Street Outlaws and the Australian Hunted series.
Madeline is an experienced writer and performer. In 2013 she graduated from The University of Newcastle with a bachelor degree in Creative and Performing Arts and Writing. She soon moved to Sydney where she studied fashion and began interning at GQ Magazine. In recent years Madeline has seen her writing successfully published.
In 2017 she graduated from the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts with a diploma in Screen Performance. Madeline has performed in numerous productions including the feature film The Kids of Grove and television series Neighbours and Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries.
In her first year of studying a Masters in Film and Television at the Victorian College of the Arts she was awarded the Collaborative Arts Grant. Madeline has recently graduated from the VCA with a Master of Film & Television in Screenwriting and Directing. She Wore Blue is her graduate film.
SIX STRINGS UP
Directed by Guy Wilkinson
Short Documentary - Australia - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 12m 9s
Synopsis
A disillusioned teen stumbles on something seemingly insignificant—only to discover it would change everything.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Short Subject - Guy Wilkinson
Director's Biography
Guy Wilkinson makes short films and documentaries with minimal crew. His films focus on the raw, poetic moments of everyday people and their stories.
SPRING IN SIBERIA
Written by Pablo Torroella
Feature Screenplay - United States - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Pages - 100
Synopsis
Based on real events, Soviet citizens deported to Siberia to create a self-sustaining colony are forced to survive the harsh climate and human nature.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Screenplay
SWEENEY TODD - SLICE AND DICE
Directed by Steven M Smith
Feature Film - United Kingdom - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 1h 22m
Synopsis
A period-set psychological thriller sees Todd and his unlikely associate, Mrs. Lovett, leading a deadly charge for justice against the Victorian upper class.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Visual Effects - Rowan Mckay Hubbard
Director's Biography
Steven produced his first feature film Time of Her Life that screened at Cannes in 2005 .
He was an Associate Producer on the award winning My Feral Heart.
Steven wrote and directed The Haunting Of Borley Rectory (Which won Best Thriller and the National Film Awards 2021)
TENDERFOOT
Directed by Ophelia Murrayk
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 16m 57s
Synopsis
Two isolated men are thrown together when young fugitive Will is caught on ageing farmer John’s property. Sharing a meal, the two men struggle to connect as Will refuses to open up to the older man. Forcing a confrontation, John eventually gets through to Will and they share a calmer, more domestic moment. As the days wear on, John invites Will further into his home and the two begin to get closer. Neither man is able to drop their gruff masks of masculinity enough to genuinely connect though, and eventually, Will’s fear of becoming weak and domestic prompts him to leave. That night, Will sneaks out of his room to steal food for his travels. John lies asleep in the living room as Will sneaks past. As Will digs around in the storeroom, he stumbles on a plaque and badges commemorating police service. Terrified, he pulls out his gun (imitation prop) and exits. In the living room, John kneels before a box of cash, and a letter addressed to his son. Silently, Will deliberates whether to shoot John or not, while John utters a prayer to his son. Unable to do it, Will backs out of the room, leaving John completely alone once again.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Performance - Ned Manning
⭐ Best Student Short Film - Sara Anderson
Director's Biography
When a young fugitive and ageing farmer come face to face, they struggle to let down their masks of masculinity and find the connection that they both need to face their grief and isolation.
THE CELEBRANT
Directed by Kate Armon, Craig Smith
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 37m 31s
Synopsis
Kate, a hapless celebrant, is trying to break into the solemn and reverent world of the funeral industry.
Struggling with love and career, she's haunted by Vera, a cantankerous ghost from her debut funeral.
As Kate fumbles through quirky ceremonies, Vera's spectral antics add a hilarious twist to this darkly comedic journey of life, death, love and misadventure.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Queensland Short Film - Kate Armon, Shannon Rigbye, Craig Smith
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Performance - Ashlee Lollback
⭐ Best Film Editing - Craig Smith
⭐ Best Supporting Performance - Hugh Parker
Director's Biography
Craig Smith, a Melbourne native, grew up in the picturesque suburb of Mt Waverly during the 1960s, where his early love for art, design, and writing took root. Despite facing obstacles in pursuing formal education in graphic design, Craig nurtured his passion for filmmaking independently. After working and raising his two sons, Nathan and Kane, his passion for filmmaking was reignited when he encountered a film crew during his night job. This led him to pursue a Diploma of Screen Arts, Film Practice at The Institute of Lens Arts of Australia. Post-graduation, Craig delved into filmmaking, producing student-led projects and later establishing his own business, VMBIZ, after relocating to the Gold Coast in 2007. His corporate filmmaking work included esteemed clients such as The Cancer Council of Western Australia and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Alongside filmmaking, Craig ventured into acting, appearing in local community theatres and commercials. It was through theatre that Craig met his wife, Kate Armon, a kindred spirit who introduced him to the world of celebrancy. Kate, originally from the UK, began her theatrical journey at the age of 4, coming from a family deeply rooted in the performing arts. After earning a spot at a prestigious acting school in London, she toured extensively across the UK with Smart Alec Productions. In 2001, she moved to New Zealand with her family, continuing her passion for theatre while exploring directing. After the birth of her daughter, Charlotte, in 2006, Kate embraced celebrancy, balancing it with motherhood and her theatre work. In 2014, Kate, along with her two daughters and parents, relocated to Australia, where she met Craig. Their mutual love for acting and writing blossomed into a personal and professional partnership. Together, they founded CK Studios, specializing in showreels and corporate videos. Inspired by their shared experiences as funeral celebrants, Craig and Kate co-wrote "The Celebrant," a passion project that merges their creative and professional worlds. In 2024 they set up Parkbench Films. Currently residing in Pimpama with their daughters, Charlotte and Rosie, the duo continues to balance family life, creative endeavours, and their celebrancy work, forging a unique path that intertwines film, theatre, and compassionate service.
THE CONTRACT
Written by Giulio Valeri
Short Screenplay - Italy - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Pages - 29
Synopsis
A painter undergoing a botched eye surgery is given the chance to save his precious eyesight, but it will cost him his soul
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Short Screenplay - Giulio Valeri
Writer's Biography
Born and raised in Rome, Italy, I have been passionate about cinema, comics, and literature since childhood. My MA thesis in Linguistic, Literary, and Translation Sciences focused on analyzing the non-linear narrative structures of Memento and Mulholland Drive. I am currently working as an English teacher in Rome while remotely attending a screenwriting course at the New York Film Academy (NYFA)
THE HOIST
Directed by Janneke Williamson
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 10m
Synopsis
Based on an outrageously true story, we follow local inventor, Bill, in his efforts to protect the most important thing at the annual bush dance... the supper. But will the chaotic entrance of an uninvited guest ruin everything?
Starring a stellar Aussie cast including Rhys Muldoon, Kate Atkinson, Rory Williamson, Keavong and Sheila Oliver, this riotous comedy proves that even when things go catastrophically wrong, it can still be the best night ever!
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Queensland Short Film - Eve Donohue, Janneke Williamson
☑️ Certificate of Distinction - Queensland Short Film - Eve Donohue, Janneke Williamson
Director's Biography
As a director, editor, producer and actor Janneke has worked in film, television, TVCs and brand stories in Australia and the US over the last 25 years from larger studio projects to smaller independent films.
Starting out in the edit suite, Janneke edited for many years before moving to directing commercials and brand stories.
Now living in Queensland with her husband and two children Janneke proudly wears the hats of filmmaker and entrepreneur.
As a mother of two, Janneke had a short break from the industry and founded a successful online startup but in recent years has been focusing back on filmmaking.
In 2022 Janneke created and directed a six part web series "Two Blue Lines" which has had online and festival success around the world.
Janneke produced and edited a feature length film "Jimmy Tennison" with Felix Williamson and NIDA in 2009 but more recently Janneke edited a documentary "A Wake" by Catherine Mack and directed one of the winning short films from the Sunny Coast Showdown 2023 "The Stripper Trade Off" by Stephen Walker. In 2024 Janneke directed Sunny Coast Showdown film "The Hoist" by Emma Morgan winning best film and people's choice award at the SCS Showcase. For Showdown 2024 Janneke also produced 4 other short films, "Stiff's" directed by Ryan Neil Butler, "Loophole" directed by Chris Sun, "Lured" directed by Joshua Gannon and "Smiley" directed by Beverley Marcusson.
THE LITTER
Directed by Pouria Bagheri
Short Film - Iran, Islamic Republic of - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 16m 53s
Synopsis
A boy who has never seen his mother embarks on a journey to find her, walking the thin line between illusion, dream, and reality
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Youth Performance - Amirhossein Bayat
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Youth Performance - Yasni Soorani
Director's Biography
Pouria Bagheri is an Iranian
filmmaker born in 1996 in Tehran. His work explores themes of identity, memory, and surreal storytelling. His latest film, The Litter, was a Top 48 finalist at Busan International Film Festival.
THE MEDIATOR
Directed by Roman Anastasios
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 11m 45s
Synopsis
It’s 2009, Mick Gatto is at the height of his powers. If you take his business card at face value, he’s arguably one of the world’s best negotiators. He’s also the last-man-standing after Melbourne’s brutal gangland wars. What did he have to do to survive the carnage? And what has he had to do to stay alive?
Two men cower in a five-star London hotel. Mick’s on his way. And we’ve got just one question. Why didn’t they run when they had the chance?
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Performance - Steve Bastoni
⭐ Best Student Short Film - Roman Anastosios
Director's Biography
Roman Anastasios is a graduating director from the Victorian College of Arts, having just completed a Bachelor in Film and Television.
With a background in cinematography, Roman boasts a keen visual literacy that champions itself on connecting with that which makes us most human. These elements are vivid through his work as a director of photography and have carried over into his career as a director.
With his work in the short-form space garnering millions of views online worldwide, which has led to successful music video work, award-winning collaborations, and working alongside a talented new generation of cinematographers and actors.
Drawn to big stories deserving of an even bigger stage, his recent brooding work feels to homage greats such as Villeneuve and Cary Joji Fukunaga.
THE INVISIBLE FLOATING ISLAND OF KIA KAI
Written by Ke De Sol
Feature Screenplay - Australia - Self-rated PG content guide
Pages - 97
Synopsis
After her mother dies, Diana embarks on a journey of discovery to the mysterious Island of KiaKai. But she soon realises that it's not paradise.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Screenplay
☑️ Certificate of Distinction - Feature Screenplay
THE REACH
Directed by Luca Caserta
Short Film - Italy - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 28m
Synopsis
Based on a short story by Stephen King.
On Goat Island, elderly Stella Flanders must confront her past and the Reach that separates the isle from the mainland, in a journey between memories and love that transcends the boundaries of life.
Stella Flanders is the oldest woman on Goat Island. Throughout her life, she has never crossed the reach that separates the isle from the mainland. She has spent her entire existence in that small, close-knit community that is almost as welcoming as a family and in which she has always had everything she needed. But as a freezing winter descends upon the island, Stella begins to see visions of those she once loved, calling her toward the Reach. Perhaps the time has come for her to embark on that journey she never wished to take...
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Lead Performance - Jana Balkan
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best International Short Film - Luca Caserta
⭐ Best Visual Effects - Alessio Zambardi
Director's Statement
Luca Caserta is an Italian filmmaker, graduated in film direction and screenwriting at the Movie Academy of Cinecittà (Rome), where he studied under renowned masters such as Carlo Lizzani, Giacomo Scarpelli, Mario Brenta, and Giuseppe Pinori. At Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome he deepened the study of direction of photography with Giuseppe Lanci. After writing and directing several plays, achieving important recognitions (including the "Premio Calcante" by SIAD – Italian Society of Dramatic Authors), he has dedicated himself exclusively to cinema and audiovisuals for several years now. He's author of short films, documentaries, and art videos. His work has been presented at many Festivals including Cannes Film Festival, David di Donatello Awards, Berlin European Short Film Festival, Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying) and Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying).
He wrote, directed and co-produced the short film "Inside the Mirror". The editing supervision is by Ugo De Rossi, editor, among others, of Fellini, Pasolini, Bertolucci, Petri and Rosi. The film, along with the following "Out of the Depths" and "The Other Side of the Moon", is part of a trilogy exploring the double and the hidden depths of the human soul. His experimental documentary "The Canvas Forge" focuses on the birth of a painting and the crafts behind it.
His acclaimed short film "Tell Me Who I Am" won 181 awards globally, including the Award of Excellence for Direction at the Best Shorts Competition (USA). The film explores with deep intensity important and contemporary themes such as memory, violence against women, and the search for one's lost identity and dignity. The soundtrack includes the song "Piccola stella senza cielo" by the Italian rockstar Luciano Ligabue.
In 2024, he wrote and directed "The Reach", based on a short story by Stephen King. The film features the song "Moonlight Motel" by Bruce Springsteen, courtesy of the artist and Sony Music.
Luca Caserta's works are characterized by touching different genres, styles and themes, from comedy, to social/civil commitment and human rights, to the investigation of the most obscure aspects of the human psyche, to the supernatural, highlighting a certain artistic versatility. Most of his short films are available on YouTube, Vimeo and Prime Video.
He’s a member of ANAC (National Association of Film Authors), of SIAD (Italian Society of Dramatic Authors) and SIAE (Italian Society of Authors and Editors) and he's a juror for the Sunset Film Festival (Los Angeles) and served as curator for the Short Film Section at Schermi d'Amore Film Festival (Italy).
THE RED ZONE
Written by Terry Luke Podnar
Feature Screenplay - United States - Self-rated M content guide
Pages - 104
Synopsis
A mysterious and nearly indestructible football running back with fragmented memories and traumatic dreams entrusts a determined beat reporter to help find his murky origins, a conspiracy, an unfathomable experiment and the devastating truth of his dominance.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Feature Screenplay
Writer's Biography
Terry Podnar, a graduate of Kent State, is a screenwriter who currently lives in Akron, OH; however, he does have the flexibility to move. In the past year, he has written four feature length screenplays and four short scripts, all of which have won multiple awards. His feature script, The Red Zone, was placed on The Red List in January of this year. His passion for films started early on when he wrote and filmed many independent films. During that time, Terry was forced to make a living. As a result, he became the founder and CEO of a successful business that served the continental U.S.A.. But Terry returned to his first love: writing screenplays. You can follow Terry’s progress on InkTip, Coverfly and FilmFreeway.
THE SESSIONS
Directed by Vince Eisenson
Short Film - United States - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 27m 16s
Synopsis
In this crime driven, pilot episode, we met a therapy group for murderers where someone is bound to snap.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Sound & Music
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best International Short Film - Alexander Julian III
⭐ Best Supporting Performance - Bobby J. Brown
☑️ Certificate of Distinction - Supporting Performance - Bobby J. Brown
Director's Biography
Vince Eisenson is a producer, director and actor. He has appeared on television in Billions, New Amsterdam, What Would You Do?, The Good Lord Bird, Turn: Washington’s Spies, Hunters, and several other series. He can also be seen in Wonder Woman 1984 and the upcoming thriller features, Closure and Deadlock. He previously directed the multi-award winning short films "Gift" and "Lost on the Beach" and directed and produced the TV Pilot of "The Sessions".
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
Directed by Patrick Hatfield
Short Film - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 11m 45s
Synopsis
This Too Shall Pass, is a poignant short film set in the bustling streets of Sydney at night. It follows the journey of a weary ride share driver who encounters a distressed passenger during his nightly rounds. As they traverse the city, the driver's empathy and understanding gradually unravel the passenger's emotional turmoil, leading to a pivotal moment where she stands on the edge of a cliff, contemplating her pain and the possibility of ending it all. Through the driver's own experiences of loss and grief, he offers the passenger a lifeline of compassion and support, urging her to reach out for help.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Australian Short Film - Patrick Hatfield
Director's Statement
Patrick Hatfield is an Australian filmmaker based in Sydney who has worked on a number of top Australian TV shows and films over the past few years in various crew roles, like the award winning Total Control, Home and Away, Last King of The Cross and international shows The Artful Dodger and Queen of Oz, as well as some brief appearances in front of the camera. Patrick was an Associate Producer on the critically acclaimed Australian feature film Streets of Colour and has helped produce a number of short films for other filmmakers. Patrick's first major short film, written and directed by him, This Too Shall Pass, will be making a splash on the 2025 film festival circuit while he works on a number of upcoming short and longer form projects already in the works.
TIME
Directed by Rhianna Malezer
Music Video - Australia - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 3m 32s
Synopsis
The lead single on alt-pop artist GLVES debut EP, 'TIME' invites you into a space between memory and imagination, movement and stillness. The 'TIME' music video reflects GLVES journey of self-discovery and belonging - an exploration of what it means to truly connect with herself. Filmed in Magandjin on Turrbal and Yuggera Country, set across shifting, liminal spaces, the video features GLVES moving through water, fabric and soft glowing light, ultimately joined by a sisterhood of dancers. Inspired by the concept of the 'third space', it's about creating a timeless, transformative place where she can uncover and embrace the parts of herself she's often overlooked. It's a vulnerable and hopeful reflection of the ups and downs of GLVES learning to love herself.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Music Video - Michelle Levings (GLVES)
Director's Biography
Rhianna Malezer is a proudly queer Butchulla and Kamilaroi writer, filmmaker and artist. She began her film career in the art department, working across many productions including 'Goldstone', 'Thor: Ragnarok' and 'Mortal Engines'. In 2019, Rhianna was a writer on season 4 of ABC's 'Black Comedy' - an experience that empowered her to contribute to authentic representations of First Nations stories on-screen.
Rhianna's screenwriting highlights include being mentored by Leah Purcell on development of her drama series 'Suburban Beats', winning the Australian Writer's Guild's Monte Miller Award with short film script 'The Stockman', and writing for NITV's children's series 'Eddie's Liil' Homies'. In 2024, Rhianna was the Queensland recipient of the SBS Emerging Writer's Incubator, while her online series 'Mangrove Mansion' was shortlisted for SBS's Digital Originals program.
Recently Rhianna began her journey as a director, participating in BLACKapple and Common Ground's She Directs program and receiving a Grounded Story Grant to produce video art piece 'wului: pink smoke'. Rhianna recently collaborated with First Nations musician GLVES to direct a music video for the lead single on their debut EP.
Rhianna believes in the power of story as a tool for truth-telling, survival and healing. Through her work, she hopes to honour those who have come before, while empowering the communities she belongs to by celebrating stories of Blak joy.
TINN
Directed by Watanyu Wongchetta
Short Film - Thailand - Self-rated PG content guide
Runtime - 26m 55s
Synopsis
Thun, a young boy who is hired to become a monk in order to earn money to treat his grandmother. He is accompanied by his Uncle "Tinn" who is always by his side. But one day, his grandmother's condition gets worse. Therefore, Thun has to find a way to save the one he loves, by making a life changing dicition.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Student Short Film - Nathatanapol Kijisrijaroenphorn
Director's Biography
My nickname is Ahm. Born and grew up in Thailand. I’m 24 years old and am fluent in both Thai and English. I enjoy working in teams and have excellent communication skills. I am an aspiring Writer/Director looking for experience to develop my skills in all aspects of film making.
UKUWELA: THE CROSSING
Directed by Sam Tengani, Leigh Pohl, Alberic Vollmer
Documentary Feature - South Africa - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 1h 18m 21s
Synopsis
The Cape to Rio yacht race is a grueling competition across the South Atlantic, the longest continent to continent race in the southern hemisphere and a true test of a sailor’s mettle.
Born in a hut in the rural village of Qumbu in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, a young Sibusiso Sizatu makes the unexpected journey to Cape Town after learning about his real father. In the bustling, poverty-stricken township of Masiphumelele Sibu struggles to adapt to life in a big city and going to school for the first time. It isn’t too long before he has his first, disastrous introduction to sailing. Over the years that follow, he makes the incredible transition from being a carefree herd boy to a sailing instructor at the Royal Cape Yacht Club Sailing Academy. There he brings the sport of sailing to young, marginalized and at-risk kids all from townships of Cape Town, where they learn skills that give them hope and opportunities in the maritime industry.
It is also at the Academy where he sets himself an audacious goal: to compete in the iconic Cape to Rio yacht race… and to do so with a crew chosen solely from the Academy itself.
Ukuwela: The Crossing is the inspiring true story of a young team full of talent and determination, born into a difficult and troubled life, who achieve the impossible by not only competing in the Cape to Rio race but achieve a podium finish.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Feature - Leigh Pohl
VANISHING
Directed by Sandra Luckow
Feature Documentary - United States - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 1h 47m 14s
Synopsis
Vanishing: A Love Story is a documentary about award-winning novelist Cai Emmons and her loving, open-hearted journey towards death. In 2021, at the age of 70, Cai was diagnosed with ALS. Taking place in 2022, during the last six-months Cai’s life, the film is, first and foremost, a story about the agency of expression —having a voice to create a legacy in the world.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Documentary Feature - Sandra Luckow, Kat Vecchio
☑️ Certificate of Distinction - Documentary Feature - Sandra Luckow, Kat Vecchio
Director's Biography
Sandra Luckow (Producer - Director - Editor) is a Mexican-American filmmaker who founded Ojeda Films, Inc. in 2000 to bring a bi-cultural voice to independent film. She is known for Sharp Edges, Belly Talkers (1996 Sundance US competition) and the multiple award-winning, That Way Madness Lies… Sandra has worked at Warner Bros., and Universal in casting, network and cable news programs and daytime dramas. She taught documentary film production at Yale University, School of Art for 22 years as well as producing, screenwriting, camera, editing and acting for the camera at Columbia University, Barnard College, Wesleyan University, and Sarah Lawrence College. Her pedagogy includes democratizing accessibility to modes of filmmaking by using smart phone technologies and teaching all aspects of production. She has traveled and worked internationally giving workshops, most notably with the US State Department’s cultural exchange: Lines and Spaces. She is a member of the Director’s Guild of America and holds an MFA from NYU’s TIsch School of the Arts.
VIRTUOSO
Directed by Alex Correa
Feature Film - United States - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 56m 15s
Synopsis
In the heart of the immigrant experience, Alma, a determined Mexican mother, struggles to reconcile her hopes for her son’s future with Toño's passion for playing the piano. Her hesitancy toward his artistic path ignites a deep conflict, leading to a pivotal moment where Toño performs an original piece in front of a large audience. This poignant story of resilience and transformation highlights the journey of a mother learning to trust her son's dreams and the courage to embrace change.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Feature Film - Alex Correa & Ryann Chalmers
Director's Biography
Alex Correa is a 24-year-old director and cinematographer with a passion for storytelling. His journey in film and theatre arts began at the age of 14, culminating in the completion of his first short film at just 15. Since then, Alex has continued to create meaningful projects with friends and family, fueled by a deep admiration for the dream of making films for a living.
WARLORD
Directed by Stuart Brennan
Feature Film - United Kingdom - Self-rated MA15+ content guide
Runtime - 1h 40m 30s
Synopsis
An uprising stirs when a Sheriff raises taxes and uses violence to punish those who can’t pay. The oppressed seek support from the dangerous Wood Elves, who have their own designs on the city they were once banished from.
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Supporting Performance - Billy Boyd
Director's Biography
BAFTA winner Stuart Brennan most recently directed Warchief, an Orc thriller released by Lionsgate. He has won numerous awards and achieved theatrical releases for all of his features so far. He has worked and learned from many great talents including recently with Oscar winner Martin Scorsese and Golden Globe winner Gareth Wiley.
WASHED AWAY
Directed by Terry William Webster, Stuart Mckay
Feature Documentary - Australia - Self-rated M content guide
Runtime - 1h 28m 8s
Synopsis
In February 2022, a ‘monster’ flood inundated the Northern Rivers with more than 14 metres of water, submerging thousands of homes overnight. On-theground first responders could only watch and wait, hamstrung by red tape and a lack of resources - leaving scores of people trapped in their homes, cut off from assistance and left to fend for themselves.
Washed Away follows the locals who stepped in to help, risking everything to save a stranger, and reveals a community on its knees that triumphed over tragedy, celebrating the heroes and paying tribute to those who lost their lives.
This documentary will inspire the viewer through the strength of the human spirit and fight for accountability and a renewed government response to crisis management in areas that are destined to flood again.
AFIN 2025 WINNER
⭐ Best Documentary Feature - Terry William Webster and Stuart McKay
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Film Editing - Terry Webster
Director's Biography
Free Flow Films is a studio born from the passion and vision of Terry Webster and Stuart McKay. Their mission? Craft films that delve into Australia’s heart, exploring its REAL challenges and beauty through the lens of humanity, love and longevity.
Backgrounds of Terry Webster and Stuart McKay.
Terry Webster has an illustrious career in films around the globe and is known for his strength in harsh environments. He has a keen eye for storytelling. His work as a DOP and editor, from the wilds of “Man Eats Wild” to the tales of ABC’s “Fightback Farmers,” showcases a dedication to films that inspire and provoke thought. Stuart McKay complements Terry’s vision with his impeccable music scores and sharp cinematography, sharing a boldness to traverse Australia’s most challenging terrains to capture its stories. Like Terry, Stu’s specialities are in tourism and films for humanity, and both are incredibly dedicated to being one of Australia’s best film producers. They are a one-stop shop.
WHEN THE PETALS FALL
Directed by Ka Hin Tsoi
Short Film - Hong Kong - Self-rated G content guide
Runtime - 32m 44s
Synopsis
Tang, an elderly man who uses his Buddhist faith to suppress his pedophilia, accidentally breaks a Buddha statue one day when a sudden news emerges. His neighbor Chun, who is a child neglected by his mother, seeks help from Tang and dines at Tang’s home where he uncovers the deep secrets within Tang. Chun's request to stay the night puts Tang in a moral dilemma. How will the two spend the night together?
AFIN 2025 NOMINEE
⭐ Best Student Short Film - Wing Lam Cheng
⭐ Best Youth Performance - Alvin Hui
☑️ Certificate of Distinction - Youth Performance - Alvin Hui
