BBFF2024 | Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year
Scores of Young Australian Filmmakers entered BBFF’s coveted Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year Competition this year. This session features the top 10 Nominees for 2024.
2:45pm Saturday 19 October at Palace Cinemas
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AARUSHI CHOWDURY
Clown
Eight-year-old Sami wants to play “serial killers” with her older sister, but her sister’s new best friend threatens to take her place, sparking Sami’s first experience with loneliness.
24 year old Aarushi’s debut film premiered at SXSW in Sydney, and she is currently in pre-production for a proof-of-concept developed through AFTRS and Screen Australia’s Talent Camp. She recently wrote research for Tony Ayres Productions.
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HAYDEN FLYNN
Chook Shed
An ageing sculptor, Em, whose greatest work has been withdrawn from public display, desperately searches for a new artistic vision as inspiration fades.
Hayden, 22, says that Em’s struggle to stay relevant and marketable reflects his own personal fears regarding the fragility of his artistic identity working in film, music and design.
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TOM LAWRENCE-DOYLE
Bulldog
After developing a secret relationship, two football players struggle to navigate their feelings amidst the toxic masculinity of their team and the pressure to stay hidden.
Tom, 22, is a student in Creative Arts: Screen at Flinders University, and an emerging writer and director. Bulldog debuted at the Adelaide Film Festival.
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MATHEUS HEALEY
Dogshift
Two strangers working a shift at a dodgy restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD unexpectedly form a profound connection, leaving them to reflect on their fleeting encounter.
VCA graduate Matheus, 21, has worked as a director and cinematographer on a range of projects, from his own narrative work to commercials and music videos.
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GEORGIA BROGAN
Period Party
Bee throws a period party to celebrate her recovery from anorexia, but her dysfunctional family’s antics force her to confront the messy realities of womanhood.
Georgia, 22, was a successful photographer before venturing into film; her strong cinematic visual style made her the youngest ever winner of the Australian Life Photo Prize in 2021.
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TAHLIA MAGISTRALE
Even The Ghosts Have Gone
A troubled farmer refuses to evacuate his property as a bushfire rages toward him. To survive, he must challenge his deepest beliefs.
A Media Arts and Production graduate from UTS, Tahlia, 25, currently works in Sydney across a range of film, television and advertising projects.
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RACHEL PORTHOUSE
The Receptionist
Jessica’s discomfort grows as her boss’s harassment intensifies, but when those around her dismiss her concerns, she struggles to reclaim her sense of control.
22-year-old Rachel is a Sydney based writer, director and Bachelor of Communication (Honours) graduate from the UTS.
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MURAYA MOORE
Blood Sisters
Summer is invited to a sleepover, but when the makeover turns dark, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to fit in with her new friends.
Muyaya, 24, is a Japanese-Australian woman seeking to foster a more diverse and inclusive film sector.
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FELIX LOVELL
The Scatterer
Arthur, a professional ash scatterer, takes a job in the outback, where memories from the past blur with the present as he seeks answers to unresolved questions.
Felix, 20, from Griffith Film School is an award-winning director and director of photography, collecting recognition from the Australian Cinematographer’s Society for his work on Solidago (2022).
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YIANNI ROWLANDS
Handhold
A young man attempts to reconnect with his estranged father after witnessing his grandfather’s passing, navigating the complicated emotions tied to loss and family.
Yianni, 24, a VCA graduate, began his filmmaking career early, garnishing accolades for his stop-motion animation at Trop Jr in 2012 and 2016.
SESSION TIMES
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PALACE BYRON BAY
SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 2:40pm