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A DEFIANTLY HAPPY STORY
Directed by Alex Cummings
From birth, Nathan Garcia faced a lifelong medical battle without a clear diagnosis. Defying the odds, he thrived through the relentless love of his mother, Monique, who pursued a PhD in medical research to better understand his condition and fight for the care and treatment he deserved.
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AAYAN
Directed by Alies Sluiter
An escaped asylum seeker encounters a man on a rural beach, and must decide whether to trust him, or attempt the 400 km journey to the nearest city on foot and alone.
WINNER: Best Performance (Babetida Sadjo)
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AN OSTRICH TOLD ME THE WORLD IS FAKE AND I THINK I BELIEVE IT
Directed by Lachlan Pendragon
When a young telemarketer is confronted by a mysterious talking ostrich, he learns that the universe is stop motion animation. He must put aside his dwindling toaster sales and focus on convincing his colleagues of his terrifying discovery.
WINNER: Best Film
WINNER: Best Cinematography
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FREEDOM SWIMMER
Directed by Olivia Martin-Maguire
A grandfather's perilous swim from China to Hong Kong is paralleled with his granddaughter's quest for a new freedom.
WINNER: Special Mention
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HATCHBACK
Directed by Riley Sugars
Vince attempts to dispose of a dead body for the mob, but when he reluctantly enlists the help of his dim-witted brother-in-law Ted, things don’t go to plan.
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STONEFISH
Directed by Megan Smart
Jonathan, a timid aspiring poet, longs to perform at his local spoken word night but struggles with stage fright and his neighbor’s barking dog. When diplomacy with the intimidating Don fails, Jonathan’s missteps lead to confrontation—forcing him to use his wit and creativity for survival and personal breakthrough.
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TANGKI (DONKEY)
Directed by Johnathan Daw & Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM
Three Anangu women recount how donkeys came to be well-loved in their desert community in the time before modern things like cars existed. Today, one special donkey is still a good friend.
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TARNEIT
Directed by Luisa Martiri & Tanya Modini
A simple train ride home at night for a woman turns into a terrifying game of cat and mouse with a stranger until an unforeseen force is summoned.
WINNER: Audience Choice
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THE MOTHS WILL EAT THEM UP
Directed by Kaleb McKenna
A young girl discovers a magical cloud that may hold the key to mending her father’s broken heart.
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THIS TOWN AINT BIG ENOUGH FOR THE BOTH OF US
Directed by DC Fairhurst
Two rival pickpockets clash in an increasingly risky game of cat-&-mouse.
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VOICE ACTIVATED
Directed by Steve Anthopoulos
A florist, who stutters, finds his voice when he’s forced to cooperate with a voice activated car.
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WHAT WAS IT LIKE?
Directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith
Eight filmmakers with intellectual disability interview their parents about what it was like when doctors delivered the news of their diagnosis.
2023 HOSTS & JUDGING PANEL
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MICHAEL CATON
ACTOR
With a phenomenal six-decade career, Michael is an Australian icon who has undeniably shaped the entertainment industry. Having earned his place in the prestigious Australian Film Walk of Fame for his exceptional contributions, Michael is a true luminary, showcasing his versatile talent across television, film, and stage both in Australia and beyond. His impressive resume boasts appearances in some of the nation’s most successful productions.
As an Australian icon and our all-time favorite, we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Michael back as our Ambassador. Join us in extending a warm welcome to Michael as he returns to Stellar! Secure your VIP ticket for an exclusive opportunity to mingle with Michael and his fabulous wife Helen in the VIP pavilion and terrace. -
TILDA COBHAM-HERVEY
ACTOR
An Australian actor, director, and writer, Tilda has made a name for herself in film, TV, and live theatre. From being part of the renowned physical theatre company, Force Majuere in the hit show THE AGE I'M IN, to being a founding member of the award-winning Circus company GRAVITY AND OTHER MYTHS, Tilda has always pushed the boundaries.
Her powerful performances have earned her recognition and critical acclaim, including a Helpmann Award nomination for her performance in Andrew Bovell’s play THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE. Her feature films include 52 TUESDAYS, HOTEL MUMBAI, BURN, FLINCH and I AM WOMAN, and she’s had roles in two high-profile TV mini series: THE KETTERING INCIDENT, and BARRACUDA. Tilda's creative talents shine through in the short film she wrote and directed, A FIELD GUIDE TO BEING A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL, which won the Crystal Bear at the 2018 Berlinale.
In recent years, she's co-directed the short animation ROBOROVSKI and created an immersive theatre experience called TWO STRANGERS WALK INTO A BAR. Catch her latest performances in THE LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART for Amazon and the feature film YOUNG WOMAN AND THE SEA for Disney+.
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BRADLEY SLABE
DIRECTOR / WRITER
Bradley is an Annie Award-nominated and Oscar® shortlisted writer and director based in Melbourne. In 2018, his short film LOST & FOUND premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won an Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts Award (AACTA), two AWGIE Awards including the Major Award, and an ADG Award. With over seven million views online, it also took home a Webby and two Kidscreen awards.
In 2019, Bradley was a staff writer on the Kidscreen-nominated KITTY IS NOT A CAT on the Disney Channel and was listed as one of "25 Screenwriters to Watch" by Austin Film Festival and Moviemaker Magazine.
In 2020, he was funded by Scripted Ink to write DAMIEN, an original adult animated comedy. And in 2021, Bradley took part in Imagine Impact Australia 2, where he developed OWNER'S MANUAL, a hybrid feature animation, which recently secured funding from Screen Australia for further development.
Currently, he is in active development on original animated projects that are optioned with See-Saw Films (THE POWER OF THE DOG, THE KING'S SPEECH) and Easy Tiger Productions (SAVING MR. BANKS, RAKE). -
CHLOE HAYDEN
ACTOR / AUTHOR / SPEAKER
Chloé is an Australian AACTA winning actor, global motivational speaker, best selling author, and award-winning disability rights activist.
Chloé debuted her film acting career in short film JEREMY THE DUD and is now best known for her AACTA winning performance as Quinni in Netflix's HEARTBREAK HIGH, where she made history as Australia's first mainstream autistic actress, and one of the first autistic characters in history to actually be played by an autistic actress. Chloe's passion for pushing change is also highlighted in the documentary EMBRACE, KIDS (Taryn Brumfitt, Australian Of The Year), and most notably in her best selling memoir and self help book DIFFERENT, NOT LESS.
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NATALIE ERIKA JAMES
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
Natalie Erika James is a Japanese-Australian writer/director and producer focused on female-driven genre stories told with heart.
Her debut feature, RELIC, is a psychological horror starring Emily Mortimer, Bella Heathcote and Robyn Nevin, produced by Carver Films, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Nine Stories and the Russo Brothers’ AGBO Films.
RELIC premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was programmed in SXSW, BFI London Film Festival and Sitges Film Festival, The film received a nomination for Best Film at the 2020 IFP Gotham Awards, as well as nominations for Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Screenplay at the 2020 AACTA Awards, the Australian Director’s Guild Awards and the Australian Writer’s Guild Awards.
Natalie’s latest film is APARTMENT 7A, a horror-thriller for Paramount Pictures, starring Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest and Jim Sturgess.
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SCOTT MAJOR
MC
With a career spanning over 35 years, Scott has made his mark as an award-winning director, actor, writer, and producer in TV, film, and theatre, both locally and internationally. Scott’s impressive credits include the internationally acclaimed reboot of Heartbreak High, where he reprised his iconic role of Peter Rivers, as well as his AACTA nominated feature film directorial debut, Darklands.