LAFF 2023: Australian Short Film Today

(Various Directors / 2020-2022 / Australia / 90 minutes / Age Guidance: 15+ )

UK PREMIERE

The London Australian Film Festival continues its long-standing relationship with New York-based Australian Short Film Today, with a screening of their latest selection of the best short films Australia has to offer.

Let the 2022/23 selection take you on a journey of journeys, from first days at school, to first tattoos, to voyages across the sea and on the waves. This eclectic batch of shorts, by a diverse range of filmmakers from across the continent features animation, comedy, drama and documentary. 

Films in this year’s programme:

Freedom Swimmer (Olivia Martin-McGuire, 2021)

Two Sands (Poppy van Oorde-Grainger, 2021)

Widowers (Julia Tuna, 2020)

Odd One Out (Andrew Robb, 2020)

Sunnies (Ismail Khan, 2021)

You and Me, Before and After (Madeleine Gottlieb, 2020)

Cold Water Therapy (Remy Brand, 2021)

Come along, and vote for your favourite!

Australian snacks and sweets will be on sale, and a raffle will be held before the screening.

Presented in association with Australian Short Film Today. With thanks to Chris and Francesca Beale. Event Producer: Annie Parnell.

Full Programme:

FREEDOM SWIMMER

Animation/Documentary - 15 minutes - 2021

Writer/Director: Olivia Martin-McGuire

Winner: Best Animation Award & Visionary Filmmaking Award, Aspen Shortsfest 2022

The story of a grandfather’s perilous swim from China to Hong Kong that parallels his granddaughter’s own quest for a new freedom.  

TWO SANDS

Drama - 7 minutes - 2021

Director: Poppy van Oorde-Grainger

Writers: Kook Manuer and Poppy van Oorde-Grainger

WA Screen Culture Award - Innovation in Short Film 2021

As Garang struggles on his first day at high school in Australia, memories of being lost in South Sudan are triggered.  

WIDOWERS

Drama - 12 minutes- 2020

Writer/Director: Julian Tuna 

Official Selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival (2021)

A meditation on suburban masculinity as two ageing men negotiate grief, rage and forgiveness without exchanging a word.

ODD ONE OUT 

Family/Comedy/Puppetry Animation - 7 minutes - 2020

Writer/Director: Andrew Robb

Best Film & Best Editing, SF3 (SmartFoneFlickFest) Australia 2021

Struggling to fit in to a new community a lonely doll goes on a journey of discovery.  

SUNNIES

Drama - 11 minutes - 2021

Writer/Director: Ismail Khan

Official Selection, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2022

After roaming the streets of his neighbourhood one morning, Malcolm, a troubled and somewhat delinquent teen, decides to steal a pair of sunglasses from the local shops – an act that is later revealed to be part of a much bigger plan.  

YOU AND ME, BEFORE AND AFTER

Comedy/Drama - 11 minutes - 2020

Writer/Director: Madeleine Gottlieb

Winner, Short Film Production of the Year, Screen Producers Australia Awards 2021

Two adult sisters who love each other learn to like each other while getting their first tattoos.  

COLD WATER THERAPY

Documentary/Adventure/Surfing - 25 minutes - 2021

Writer/Director: Remy Brand

Official Selection, Flickerfest 2021

Three Australian childhood friends come together to escape the ordinary, taking on the raw, unforgiving Alaskan Winter in hopes of scoring uncrowded surf.