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Watch today’s Festival:  https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/student-uk-animation-short-film-festival

COOL BEAN, 1min.
Directed by Furter Holman, Thomas Howe
Watch as the beantastic stuntsman- er, stuntsbean, Buster Bean performs some death-defying stunts while holding two very alive and very insured eggs above his head!

HOT MESS, 3min.
Directed by Tortor Smith
Hot Mess offers an insight into ADHD in a compact and creative way, highlighting the damage and anxiety that can be caused by a well-meaning, but ultimately toxic, parent.

https://instagram.com/animatortor

PLANET TOAD, 1min., UK
Directed by Magdalena Metrycka
Roaming through the cosmic sky, a star-devouring Planet Toad grows bigger and brighter, until her appetite reaches a breaking point and reshapes the night.

https://www.instagram.com/planet_toad

A DIGNIFIED BURIAL, 2min.
Directed by Daisy Patnell
Two rats debate the ethics of taxidermy.

FROZEN LAKE, 2min.
Directed by Mohammed Shariq Puthen Peediakkal
Frozen Lake follows a young man, burdened by past trauma and anxiety, who slips into a surreal journey through his memories while ice skating with his partner. Drawn beneath the ice, he confronts haunting visions of his younger self—trapped, yearning, and broken—forcing him to face the pain he has carried for years. Though supported by his partner, he realizes that healing requires inner reckoning. Blending visual surrealism with emotional intimacy, the film portrays the fragile but hopeful steps of confronting the past and learning to move forward.

https://a2118682.myportfolio.com/

ADAHI, 4min.
Directed by Melike Üzüm
Miles and miles away from civilisation and the closest intelligent creature around having a vengeful spirit, what could go wrong?

https://www.instagram.com/viraakuu/

AGHHH!!!, 1min.
Directed by Katie Wang
A woman who is terrified of the outside world soon realises that the biggest danger to her life is actually… herself.

https://www.instagram.com/aghhh.liaf

LIKE FATHER, LIKE GUM, 4min.
Directed by Aidan Harris
Like Father, Like Gum is a short comedy about a son who’s car troubles can only be fixed by his mechanically adept dad. Little does the father know, his son has already had a crack at the engine, using methods that will make any parent with mechanical sympathy cringe with horror.

https://instagram.com/likefatherlikegum

CAT-TASTROPHE, 1min.
Directed by MingHo Siu
When a giant alien CAT arrived, a SUPERHERO—forced from mid-rest and leave his house—had to confront it wearing just a TOWEL. Annoyed and impatient, he find a way—lured it away with his LASER VISION. But his aggravated aim was too strong, sending the cat crashing into the MOON with a massive explosion.

RECOIL, 5min.
Directed by Katia Lu
World War II, China. A young Chinese soldier on a chaotic battlefield is suddenly plunged into a psychological exploration of the visceral metamorphosis from child to soldier. Tranquil homes collide with the fire of their destruction; the warmth of family is shattered by the scream of falling bomb.

FADING MEMORY, 3min.
Directed by Yash Somnath Kunder
Fading Memory is a sci-fi animated short set in a future where nature has faded into myth. A grandfather captivates his grandson with the tale of a terrifying beast, only to reveal it was once a tiger, now extinct. The film explores themes of extinction and humanity’s growing disconnection from the natural world, suggesting that the creatures we know today could one day survive only in stories and imagination.

https://www.instagram.com/yashsk779/

MIND, 2min.
Directed by Cindy Sophie Solombrino
A Young girl travels down into the underground, where lack of caution may not be warranted…

OUROBOROS, 5min.
Directed by Aaron Joaquin
As a boy, he witnessed his father’s murder at the hands of a gun-wielding demon – trauma that ignited a burning desire for justice. As a man, he now struggles to walk the razor’s edge between justice and vengeance. In a neon-lit city’s dark criminal underbelly, his path of destruction begins to spiral out of control, with cash piling higher than the mountain of bodies left in his wake. But when the long-awaited confrontation arrives, the stakes shift — A snake lunges at its prey only to bite its own tail.

https://www.instagram.com/bcv.jimmy

The Trees Have Eyes, 6min.
Directed by Charlie Johnson
Among a mystical forest of ice and snow, a hunter reaps the consequences of what he sows.

https://www.instagram.com/thetreeshaveeyesfilm

Eye Contact, 4min.
Directed by Carmen Thomson
An autistic woman starts a new job where her neurotypical coworkers begin to act strangely. Seemingly everyone at the office is taking horrific measures to force their abnormal, ritualised, cult-like way of making eye contact, going so far as to turn into horrible eyeball monsters.

https://www.instagram.com/carmens_art_world

ARKANY-G, 18min., France
Directed by Daniel KICHENASSAMY
In Guadeloupe, a series of mysterious murders is shaking the small community. At every crime scene, a strange and macabre detail recurs: the presence of an object placed near the bodies, like the killer’s signature. Terrified, the residents find themselves trapped in an invisible terror, and the usually peaceful island descends into chaos.

https://www.instagram.com/premices_art_studio

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
EN:
Arkany G was motivated by the desire to blend a crime investigation with a deeper reflection on fear, community, and the unseen forces that disrupt fragile balances. Setting the story in Guadeloupe allowed me to contrast the island’s beauty with a dark, invisible threat.

FR :
Arkany G est né de l’envie de mêler une enquête criminelle à une réflexion plus profonde sur la peur, la communauté et les forces invisibles qui brisent les équilibres fragiles. Situer l’histoire en Guadeloupe permettait de confronter la beauté de l’île à une menace sombre et invisible.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
EN:
From the initial concept to the final cut, Arkany G took approximately one year, including writing, development, shooting, and post-production.

FR :
De la conception initiale au montage final, Arkany G a nécessité environ un an, incluant l’écriture, le développement, le tournage et la post-production.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
EN:
Tropical thriller.

FR :
Thriller tropical.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
EN:
The biggest challenge was creating a strong atmosphere of tension and mystery with limited resources, while making the island itself a character in the story.

FR :
Le plus grand défi a été de créer une atmosphère de tension et de mystère avec des moyens limités, tout en faisant de l’île un véritable personnage du récit.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
EN:
I felt both moved and encouraged. Hearing the audience talk about the mystery, the atmosphere, and the setting confirmed that the film’s universe resonates beyond the screen.

FR :
Je me suis senti à la fois touché et encouragé. Entendre le public parler du mystère, de l’atmosphère et du décor a confirmé que l’univers du film résonne au-delà de l’écran.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
EN:
I realized it when I understood that cinema could tell stories that combine emotion, suspense, and social reflection in a powerful and immersive way.

FR :
Je l’ai compris lorsque j’ai réalisé que le cinéma permettait de raconter des histoires mêlant émotion, suspense et réflexion sociale de manière immersive et puissante.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
EN:
Se7en is one of the films I’ve watched the most. Its use of atmosphere, symbolism, and investigation strongly influenced Arkany G.

FR :
Seven est l’un des films que j’ai le plus vus. Son utilisation de l’atmosphère, du symbolisme et de l’enquête a fortement influencé Arkany G.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
EN:
More discussions focused on audience perception and crime or genre filmmaking would be very valuable, especially for projects rooted in strong atmospheres.

FR :
Davantage d’échanges autour de la perception du public et du cinéma de genre seraient très précieux, en particulier pour des projets reposant sur une forte atmosphère.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?
EN:
FilmFreeway has been a smooth and efficient platform, making submissions clear and accessible for independent filmmakers.

FR :
FilmFreeway est une plateforme fluide et efficace, qui rend les soumissions claires et accessibles pour les réalisateurs indépendants.

10. What is your favorite meal?
EN:
A Creole meal (colombo de cabris) shared with others — food, like cinema, brings people together.

FR :
Un plat créole (colombo de cabris) partagé, car la cuisine, comme le cinéma, rassemble les gens.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
EN:
I am currently developing a new project that expands the world of Arkany G, continuing to explore crime, mystery, and human complexity.

FR :
Je développe actuellement un nouveau projet qui prolonge l’univers d’Arkany G, en explorant encore le crime, le mystère et la complexité humaine.

HERO’S JOURNEY, 15min., USA
Directed by Stan Alger
When the fourth wall breaks, a young filmmaker must find his inner creative confidence and take control of his story before it takes control of the world around him.

https://www.instagram.com/stanthedirector/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve always loved that idea of “What if the story was real?”, on that same token I love the concept of the multiverse, which is also a hot button seller these days, so I wanted to take those fun ideas and run with them to create this short film. Stories can inspire us and yes even motivate us in the real world. So in the film, the story literally inspires it’s creator, which while perhaps can also be a commentary on the state of film and TV development today….it also serves as exciting chaos!

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The script was written over the course of the summer, production took place in the fall, and the film itself was finished the following spring once my friend helped finalize all the remaining VFX.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Childlike Wonder

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

There were a few! No production is without it’s obstacles. But I’d have to say, as much as I love them, the stunt sequences and swordplay were particularly challenging as I kind of dived head first into an area that I had previously done very casually on smaller shorts growing up as a kid. This was my senior thesis in college and so we had to do things “by the book” which meant following appropriate stunt protocol and not committing any “indie style cutting of corners”. I had to manage prep and warm up in addition to my actors, my shot list and the ticking clock. But ultimately having those rules in place led to a better and far more professional performance, and dare I say has wet my appetite for more action sequences in the times to come!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I appreciated the feedback tremendously. I was so happy people enjoyed it! I was happy they loved our Actors’ performances, our DP’s camera work (Cinematographer), and that the beats and overall message carried across the way we had hoped. Most of all, our entire team was thrilled people had a good time!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Ever since I was a little kid. As cliche as it may be, I grew up loving Spielberg movies. Seeing those films on the screen at home would do more than excite me, they would inspire me, they would scare me, they would make me sad, they would make me sit in wonder. It was through those movies that I came to love storytelling and other storytellers. After a very memorable evening discussion with my family when I was a kid, I decided I wanted to be a filmmaker – and I’ve been truly in love ever since.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

It’s a tie! I’d probably say “Raiders of the Lost Ark!” Again, the Spielberg boy in me 🙂

But, there is a largely forgotten comfort film of mine from the late 80s starring Michael J Fox called “The Secret of My Success”. The story itself is basically the American Dream. It encourages you to keep pushing, to keep going, to never give up. The main character, played by Michael J Fox, does just that, and not only does he believe the dream exists, he pursues it morally….with perhaps cutting a few corners. Ultimately the good guys win in the end over the corrupt businessmen and there is a killer soundtrack to accompany.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think you guys have done a terrific job!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Wonderful. It was very intuitive and very straightforward. I really like the model.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Clam Chowdah – I’m from Boston.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes – there is always something in the works!

SPARE!, 34min., France
Directed by Jules Cales, Balthazar Ullmann
Phil and Barney, two not-so-smart henchmen of a Mafia organization, stumble across a mysterious box full of money while burying a corpse in the woods. Their night turns to chaos when they decide to spend lavishly this unexpected fortune.

https://instagram.com/spare.lefilm

Get to know filmmaker Jules Cales:

1) What motivated you to make this film?

We weren’t very entertained by the new French comedies we saw in theaters, and we didn’t really laugh. We felt we could make the kind of film we’d actually want to watch – our type of comedy – with a clear purpose: to entertain an audience through action and comedy.

2) From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Two years.

3) How would you describe your film in two words?

Rural Gangsters.

4) What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

We had to postpone the end of the shoot and raise additional funds to finish the film the way we wanted.

5) There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

It’s between production and post-production. We can’t choose.

6) When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

From a very young age, between 7 and 10 years old.

7) What film have you seen the most times in your life?

For Jules: La Cité de la Peur (Alain Chabat). For Balthazar: OSS 117 (Michel Hazanavicius).

8) In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?

In a perfect world, we’d love to have Spielberg and Scorsese as producing partners on a film.

9) You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?

It’s been good.

10) What is your favorite meal?

For Balthazar: pig’s trotters with mashed potatoes, and profiteroles for dessert, at Brasserie Lipp. For Jules: the Majorcan salted pie called coca de trampó.

11) What is next for you? A new film?

We’re currently working on the feature-length version of our short film, and we’re also developing another short film.Show less My list

Child’s Drawing, 8min., Taiwan
Directed by David Liang
Ever since the younger sister’s missing, the girl has been drowning in grief every night. However, she finds her younger sister’s drawing book tonight. When she opens it, she discovers that something terror in childish drawings.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNsuB0mQm9X/?igsh=ajExcHdmZnh4NHUw

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve always wanted to make a short film, but I kept putting it off due to time and budget limitations. During my vacation, I came up with a story that didn’t require much money and reached out to actor friends who were willing to help out for free—that’s how this film came together.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took about one month in total, with lots of discussions about the story with the actors throughout the process.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

I’d say “contrast” and “contradiction”—cute children’s drawings are usually innocent, but here they contain something strange and scary, which creates a strong clash.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Probably the editing stage. I was always trying to get the pacing to feel just right.

5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.

What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

My favorite stage is Development, because it’s where imagination and creativity can really run wild.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

When I was nine, I watched Jaws (directed by Steven Spielberg). I was absolutely terrified and didn’t dare watch it again. A few months later, I became curious about why it scared me so much, so I decided to watch it again properly. I ended up being completely drawn into the story, and that’s when I knew I wanted to make films myself.

7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?

As mentioned above, Jaws (1975) is my all-time favorite movie.

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?

That’s a tough one since there are so many people I’d love to work with, but if I had to pick one, it would be James Wan (the director of The Conjuring & Insidious). I really admire his approach to directing horror films.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Probably steak.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m currently working on a new horror short film related to an amusement park (that’s all I can share for now, sorry!).

Performed by Val Cole

1. What is your short story about?

It’s about a woman watching her own life from the inside, noticing what disappears before it’s officially gone.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

Literary fiction, psychological realism, quiet reckoning.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Uncomfortable truth.

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Wings of Desire.

5. What is your favorite song? (Or the one you’ve listened to the most.)

“Stairway to heaven” It keeps aging with me.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

Zorba the Greek. It’s complicated.

7. What motivated you to write this story?

The moment I realized silence can be a form of survival—and also a form of erasure.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

God. I wouldn’t talk much. I’d listen.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Art. The kind made from what people throw away.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I wanted the words to exist outside of me. To be witnessed.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Don’t make it pretty too soon. Tell the truth first. Editing comes later.

Half Past, 20min., USA
Directed by Jonas Fryer
A group of con artists learn the importance of trust during a heist where everything goes wrong.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve been fascinated by the concept of non-linear narratives ever since the first time I watched films like Memento and Pulp Fiction, but for the longest time I could not come up with a good story in which this non-chronological structure felt like the right way to tell it. Finally, after doing a lot of personal work on confronting my own fears as well as meeting an incredible group of creatives, suddenly the story and feasibility of making Half Past became clear.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I originally came up with the loose story idea last year, but the actual process from development to finishing took about 10 months.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Forward, backward

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

It was a tie between time and money. We only had four shoot days and a small budget to film the entire project, but thanks to the unbelievable dedication, guidance, positivity, and patience of every member of this film’s cast and crew we were able to deliver a final product that was better than I could have ever imagined. I am eternally grateful to each and every one of them.

5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.

What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

Production is and will always be my favorite stage. There are certainly a lot of stressful moments on set as you’re battling the clock to get all the shots you want, but production is also the most collaborative stage of filmmaking with your cast and crew as well as being the time in the process where you can be way too silly and have too much fun in wild locations with some amazing people.

I also have a soft spot for post-production as putting the assembly cut together is when you can start to see what ideas your film is trying to explore with the audience.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Films and television shows and just visual storytelling in general are always what brought my family together. Whether it was watching Avatar: The Last Airbender with my brother growing up or watching The Walking Dead with my dad every Sunday night, home always felt the most like home when I was watching an amazing story with loved ones and so I knew that if I could help to share that experience with other families then I had a duty to do so.

7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?

Growing up, I put on the DVD for the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius movie almost every day for a couple of years (thank you for being patient with me Mom!). Besides that, I can probably quote the entirety of Back to the Future at this point.

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?

Honestly, I just want to work with my Half Past crew again (I apologize if that response is too cliché). In all seriousness, from talent to camera to sound to lighting to all the incredible PAs, they were some of the most talented, thoughtful, and kind-hearted people I’ve ever worked with. Working on this project was one of the special things I’ve ever done on this planet and it’s all because of them.

I would also love to work with David Fincher at some point and learn how he moves the camera so smoothly!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

My experience has been quite positive so far! The ability to filter for the festivals that are best suited for your particular film ensures that your film has the best chance of getting in front of the audiences that want to see it.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Ravioli. Also can’t go wrong with a bagel and lox.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Priority one for me now is finding that bagel and lox. After that, I’ll be continuing my post-production freelancing while developing a film or two…

1) What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of my poem is the concept of manufactured beauty presented as something to be aspired to despite how dangerous it can be not only physically but emotionally to young girls and other consumers.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

My motivation was my complicated relationship I had with my body and me deconstructing my love of Barbies growing up. I had them long past my childhood and preteen years. As I grew older, suddenly Barbies became adults as opposed to adults playing the role of teenagers. I was using Barbies to act out adult situations I saw on television and trying to make sense of it.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry since I was about ten years old. Ten years old was the age I decided to become a writer, and soon I was writing objectively bad poetry on top of short stories.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

If I could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), it would be Anne Frank.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Part of me feels like words are waiting not only for the right person to tell their story, but to do it justice. Having work performed is telling the story that is too big for just the page to contain it, and poetry has that power just as much as scripts for plays and films do.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I have written short stories, published a novella, am currently writing my first full novel, and attempted to write scripts. While I wasn’t the best I writing scripts, I enjoy reading them and plays.

7) What is your passion in life?

My passion is to tell stories. I have a voice–dry, often depressing, yet still clinging to hope and the belief that people have goodness in them–that I plan on sharing with the world soon.

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your novel about?

Loqua: Blade of the King is a medieval war novel that explores the life and experiences of Loqua, a warrior facing loyalty, power, and the cost of leadership in a world on the brink of war. He has crushed every foe in the name of peace as the empire’s bravest general and the king’s right hand. The empire rules the world, except for one last land. In the south, the Revolution stands strong, their warriors fierce and their defiance unbroken. To conquer them is to unite the globe under a single banner. To fail is to see the empire’s dream collapse. As Loqua leads the empire’s greatest war yet, he will forge unexpected friendships, face bitter enemies, and be forced to decide how far he is willing to go to finish what he began. Victory will bring lasting peace, while defeat will end everything he has fought for.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

The story is a fantasy medieval war and adventure novel, with strong emotional conflict and a focus on the bonds between friends and those you care for. While it features large-scale battles and political stakes, at its heart it explores how loyalty, friendship, and personal choices shape Loqua’s journey.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

I would describe the story in two words: Honor and Sacrifice. These words reflect the choices Loqua faces, the bonds he forms, and the cost of duty and loyalty throughout his journey.

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

The movie I’ve seen the most in my life is The Lord of the Rings. I’ve watched it many times because I enjoy the epic story, the world, and the adventure.

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

One song I’ve listened to the most in my life is “Stan” by Eminem. I’ve always been drawn to the storytelling in the song and the way it conveys intense emotion.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

My all-time favorite novel is Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. I’ve always been drawn to the way it portrays conviction and courage, especially when a character is standing against overwhelming odds.

7. What motivated you to write this story?

I was motivated by my creativity and my desire to create a story that makes others feel emotion, whether that emotion is anger, sadness, or happiness. I wanted to create something that could make people feel real human emotion from a story I imagined and brought to life.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

I would choose to have dinner with Jesus. As a Catholic, I would love the opportunity to listen to His wisdom and ask questions, learning from His perspective and teachings.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Apart from writing, I’m very passionate about going to the gym and staying physically disciplined. I also enjoy playing video games in my free time.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I decided to enter my story to be performed because I want to get my book out there and eventually see it published. Having it performed is a great way to share the story, gain publicity, and connect with a wider audience.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

My advice to other writers is to keep going no matter how long it takes. Even when motivation fades or challenges arise, don’t stop and don’t give up. Finishing your story is what matters most.

Reach for the Stars, 22min., Australia
Directed by Dylan Randall
After her mother’s passing, young Madeline is struggling with coming to terms with her grief. One night, when a small spacecraft crashes in her backyard, she meets B3R1, a stranded visitor from the stars.

https://www.instagram.com/outatimepictures

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Reach For the Stars is a project that I hold very close to my heart, as the idea came after the passing of my Grandad, and how my family and I dealt with the grief that followed. This moment in my life motivated me to create something that could be a light-hearted, wonder-filled adventure but with emotional undertones that helps us explore the idea of how different people deal with loss, and how that can be overcome. He was always a supporter with my films, much like my entire family, and the way that a writer can use their own personal experiences to carve a story was something that drew me to finally creating a story that carried this weight. I was also motivated and inspired by the wonderful work of the ‘Industrial Light and Magic’ studio and the puppets created for the original Star Wars, and I began to wonder how I could incorporate these techniques into my story. As soon as I knew I wanted to incorporate a robot, learning everything about how they used to do it became my everyday reading. Because I believe that stories are the windows to a world far beyond our reach, I wanted bring a shared experience of so many people to life with something that could not be tangible in our day to day life. This bridged the gap between reality and the wonderful make-believe and B3R1 acts as the emotional bridge for our audience to connect them to this story and to act as a sense of hope that people may need.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The original idea formed in April of 2024, but I had other projects in production around then and I hadn’t fully finished the script yet. I then pushed back the completion of the script until Feb 2025 and from the moment I finished the script, I already had a cast picked out without even asking them. Pre-Production on the robot started in March as he was quite particular to build and needed all the time to make adjustments, do visual tests etc. Then we started Principle Photography in July and it took 5 shoot days in total. PostProduction took around 2 months, as it was mostly VFX work on the robot until our completion in September. In this time we also live recorded a majority of our score with the help of our composer, Lizzie, and some amazing musicians.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Wonder and Wholesome

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

B3R1, The Robot. He was a little tricky to get right. From the beginning of the filming process, I knew he was going to be a physical robot which was then digitally enhanced in post. It wasn’t until his creation began that I realised, due to his scale, and my lack of robotics knowledge, he was going to be a very basic shell, which would then be brought to life. I completed a VFX test which included using eye tracking on After Effects which was parented to his cartoon eyes so that the actor could do a physical performance which I could translate to digital movement. It looked good but it was not great. We jumped straight into production and I was still figuring him out, so we shot the actress first, and then moved onto B. Initially it was stopmotion, which we tried, and ultimately failed for the shots I was trying to create. He didn’t feel alive and it felt so disconnected. We scrapped the stop-motion 3 days into shooting, and we pulled out the fishing wire and off we went, B3R1 finally felt alive. It was a combination of our amazing puppeteer Daniel, and the help of the crew for more complex shots, which brought him to life, and in the end made B3R1 the easiest part of the shoot. The haze and fog machine was our real enemy.

5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. PostProduction. Distribution.

What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

My favourite stage is a big tie between the Production stage and Post-Production stage. For my films, I include a lot of visual trickery that sometimes you cannot picture or see on set during production. For production, I love watching my stories come to life through peoples interpretations, watching scenes blend together and see the images I’ve had in my mind for months, finally fall in-front of my eyes. It is an honour to be able to be trusted by your closest friends to tell some of the most heartwarming to most crazy stories you’ve written. Post-Production is so much fun, as I have been a wiz at VFX for a long time, and every film I try something new, and even sometimes try a new form of art to include in my film. Reach for the Stars included many hand drawn animations, which was a first for me, and then my skills in AE come into affect when I had to bring these drawings to life in the film. Every creative process of the filmmaking journey is an incredibly fun one, and these are only two highlights of what makes film so special to me.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

For as long as I can remember. I can’t actually put my finger on the exact moment, but my father brought me up on all the old 80s films and I can just remember always wanting to try recreate every moment I saw. The Delorean disappearing in BTTF, the TARDIS in Dr Who, Gremlins, ET, Jaws, Indiana Jones. I could name every film that I have watched and wanted to try and recreate. Ever since then, every school project I tried to make it a film, every film I have made has been fun, trying something new each different time and learning something from the last. It’s been a blast and will continue to be a blast!

7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?

Definitely Back to the Future!

8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?

Honestly it would be to work under/work with Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan. Those two directors have shaped my filmmaking and just every film they have made is amazing. I am a Sci-Fi buff, so its to be said that these two had something to do with that!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I haven’t submitted a film since my feature I made in 2022, and it has been alright this time. I have had a few mixups with the larger more country hoping festivals where my film hasn’t uploaded so I missed the festival etc, but all round, this time has been great, and I have been able to be apart of so many amazing festivals around the world and the opportunity to show the team and I’s craftsmanship in filmmaking.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Can’t go wrong with Steak and Chips!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes! A brand new film is currently in Principle Photography. After the adventures of using puppetry in Reach for the Stars, I thought I would extend my play and try building and creating my own set of puppets, to braces the high seas! It is coming along great and it is currently extremely fun to be shooting, the edit of this film is going to be very intense however super rewarding. There is nothing like trying your hand at something new and learning something along the way. I can’t spoil too much, but the adventures across the high seas are just getting started.