These films from the VSFF 2024 Official Selection struck a chord with audiences across Australia.
Watch and enjoy the films below.
“Aevum”: A young man, Isaac, suffering from an existential crisis journeys through his dream landscape. Here, he surrealistically encounters different manifestations of himself; confronting those parts of himself that he has ignored and suppressed for too long.
“A Spark”: This film follows the emotional journey of losing oneself in motherhood and finding yourself again through experimental inflictions, montage and music alongside a poetic monologue.
“Bring Back the Office Tea Lady”: This is a documentary that informs the public of the role of the historical office tea lady and aims to raise public awareness of the potential social and wellbeing benefits of bringing back a modern-day office tea person.
“Catch Up”: A couple has lost their spark in their relationship, they have come together one last time to try and reignite it and catch up.
“Formal Take Two”: In this exploration of rites of passage, inclusion, and belonging, four film students reflect on their high school and formal experiences as people with disability, culminating in the chance to redo their formal dance experience.
“Loop”: A woman stuck; lost her spark; her neuro-divergence has been a difficult revelation; if only she had an opportunity to stop and discover everything she missed, perhaps then; happiness.
“Olympic Champion”: A weary man receives a message from his partner, challenging him to pursue his Olympic dream.
“Pee Shy” shows a meet-cute in a public bathroom between a weirdo girl and insecure shy guy.
“Polystyrene Junkie”: Peter flies model planes down the park with his friends almost every morning. But Peter and his friends are all well past middle age, and they don’t get together to drink, watch sport or escape their families. They get together simply to play.
“Remember Me”: A young girl learns Italian in a last attempt to communicate to her Nonno who is suffering from dementia.
“Shkëndijë”: Two strangers exchange a conversation in a cinema lobby, connections are made but awkwardness follows.
Sparky, a mischievous dog, runs away despite Peter’s efforts. Desperate to keep his dog-sitting job, Peter and his mate Jasper search for Sparky, only to uncover a much bigger problem.
“Steamed Egg Custards”: While remembering my mother, I decided to make her steamed egg custard recipe.
“Stonewall”: A young woman returns to her regional hometown to make peace with the death of her estranged mother.
“The Something”: The woman needs to do the dishes but her brain is broken so she waits for The Something, the spark, the chemical shift in her brain that will allow her to pick up the scrubbing brush and return to her life.
“The Tunnel”: Every woman has her breaking point… and Victoria has reached hers.
“Uprooted”: A Sunday afternoon seems like any other until Charlotte digs a little close to Grandma’s buried secrets. When she starts to piece it all together will she run away or help hide the evidence.
“Waiting For The Man”: A suspicious looking man and woman wait by their muscle car at the side of the road somewhere way off the beaten track. The man is anxious and on edge, constantly checking his watch. A mysterious car with blacked out windows approaches. Something is about to go down…
“Who is Bob?”: A mockumentary that delves into the mysterious world of its titular character, Bob, a man of anonymity and silence who has risen to social media stardom.
“17”: In a quiet rural suburb, a young girl turns seventeen, mourning the innocence lost amid a troubled childhood while contemplating the uncertain transition into adulthood.
“Amor Fati”: Do you believe in Karma? Fate? “Amor Fati” is about an ordinary happy teenage girl who suddenly finds herself cursed.
“Cicadas”: In the scorching heat of a sweltering day, “Cicadas” follows two young friends fighting over a singular Quelch stick. However, as the sun continues to beat down on them, tensions escalate and their loyalties are tested.
“Change – A True Story”: A true story about going through life during parental divorce and the importance of embracing change.
“Forsaken”: Amongst an Earth encompassed by a depleted ozone layer, one man strives to rehabilitate survival following a global evacuation of human life.
“Fourteen” is about a girl called Luna who’s family died in a car crash on her thirteenth birthday.
“George” delves into the mind of a young writer battling to bring the perfect character to life.
“Insanitizer”: The short film follows a student, who, driven by boredom, becomes obsessed with a bottle of hand sanitiser, leading to a wild journey of curiosity and temptation that spirals into madness.
“JACHELT”: JACHELT, meaning wind bent trees, is a short horror film following a young girl living on Bruny Island. She begins her day doing chores around her house, and then goes to the beach by herself to celebrate her birthday…
“Just a Kiss”: Lovers Ana and Jem go on a remote camping trip. Over the weekend, Jem’s inner desires surface, unable to be sated. Ana tries to help, but only makes Jem’s plight worse.
“Kinetic Connection”: A spark of friendship between two robots as they grow old together.
“Kusimiddzira Chiedza”: A girl grieving her sister’s loss tries to find solace by lighting sparklers, her sister’s favourite. During this moment, she is visited by an unwelcome guest.
“Mania”: A boy is given two Beatles vinyl by his father, Rubber soul and Magical Mystery Tour. The film follows the boy through his journey with the discovery of The Beatles. The film explores how music can influence a person.
“Still There?”: As the report of a zombie virus hits the world, Rhys flees to his garage. Trapped in his dark corner, gripping onto sanity, he hears the beckoning voice of a zombie on the outside.
“The Hunt”: The Hunt is a short film based on Hansel and Gretel. Henry and Grace find themselves going on an easter egg hunt at a spooky headland. With the help of Henry’s semi-broken lighter he is able to spark light in a scary situation. Will the spark leave them hunting or hunted?
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