In partnership with the University of Melbourne, we’re showcasing more than 40 films by the Victorian College of the Arts’ Film and Television graduating class of 2020 on MIFF Play from 27 September.
This special free-to-view presentation features some of the most diverse films ever seen in a final-year graduate showcase, encompassing themes such as love, isolation, family, existential dread and self-discovery. It is the culmination of years of effort and ingenuity from the graduating cohort, and includes both postgraduate and undergraduate students from disciplines spanning film and television, screenwriting and producing.
All the films were shot under tight COVID-safe restrictions, yet the passion of the filmmakers remains as strong as ever. “The traditional benchmarks and measures of success in filmmaking don’t apply in this context,” remarks Head of VCA Film and Television Andrew O’Keefe. “Each student has demonstrated incredible resilience and commitment to realise their vision and accomplish their work.”
The VCA Film and Television Graduate Season is available to stream exclusively on MIFF Play, across Australia, 27 September – 10 October.
Image: We Never Asked for This
Image: Stitched Together
Stitched Together
“I didn’t want to make a scary or negative film; I felt like I needed to find a sense of hope. I realised that, as much as my film was about the environment, it was also about the strength of community. After a year where all of us were so alone and separated from those we loved, it ended up being really cathartic to feel a sense of community again.” – director Tess McArthur-Dowty
Image: The Soft-Skinned
The Soft-Skinned
In a timely piece of filmmaking, Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe confronts the scars of Afghanistan for both asylum seekers and veterans as well as the healing potential of friendship.
With a background as a documentary filmmaker, she names her work with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as a key source of inspiration.
Image: Onions
Onions
“Although I explore the many differences between city and country life and my dad and me, I feel like ultimately the film is a love letter to regional Victoria and to my dad.”
Director Emmy Clifton drew on childhood experiences in making her short film, Onions.
