We love James’ Director’s Statement –

I’ve always had a soft spot for 1970s horror.

There’s something magical about the films of that era. The sometimes insane storylines,

the colour palettes, the tone and the grainy film stock texture is perfection. I’m equally fascinated by the found-footage genre and its ability to create a raw sense of realism. In horror, the more believable it feels, the deeper the audience connects, and the more they react when things turn bad.

With Fire Alive, I wanted to blend those two worlds: the gritty realism of found footage with the visual and emotional texture of ’70s cinema. The decision to shoot entirely on a phone was a deliberate nod to the

spirit of independent filmmaking, using whatever tools are available, breaking rules, and chasing authenticity over polish. I love that scrappy, fearless energy that defines indie horror and indie cinema, and I wanted that to pulse through every frame.

In the film we see the cast play the Fire Alive game. Astrange ritual/urban legend that blurs the line between superstition and reality. I wanted to invent something that felt so unsettling yet tempting, that audiences might want to try themselves (and obviously film it on their own iPhones). If they dare.”

And our incredible Mini finalists are (in alphabetical order):

A Dialtone Reverie by Joshua Belinfante

A Social Practice by Christina Mishell

A Touch of Romance by Victoria Wharfe McIntyre

Adam V Ammo by Kevin Jones

Aligned by Darya Miroshnikova & Swati Taldarr

Auditum by Natasha Reynolds

Birrarung by Elfie & Max Schleser

BRUSHSTROKES by Michelle Zeng

Colour by Gleb Forminykh

Dr Frank’s Teddies by Kieran Clancy-Lowe

Evacuate by Ziyang Ye

Fractured Lines by Marina Zivkovic

grief.exe by Riley Fletcher

Kung Fu Debut by Bevan Garozzo

Mira by Jock Davidson

NAMASTE by Vladimir Zokitch

Nothing in the Dark by Kevin James O’Neill

Over the Hill in Clackerville: Epidode 8 by Steven Caldwell & Nathan Baldassero

Scoot Life by Bella & Bea

Shadows by Olivia Cogorno & Juli Papa

Signal by See Hari Varma Sagi

The Chosen One by Aaron Scully

The Day He Gave Me Flowers by James Guilar

The Hue of Red (Laal) by Maanavi Bedi

ThreadLoop by Mark Bernard

And a huge drum roll and applause for our finalists (in alphabetical order):

[STATIC] by Jordan Ho

The discovery of a peculiar hat turns the world upside down as a guy finds out he’s the only one who can see like this with his entire worldview distorted. But there’s always a drawback to curiosity.

A Guide to Gaslighting by the Senior Class atCentre Stage Academy of Performing Arts

Just what is gaslighting, where did it come from, and how do people use it in every day life. Join us as we discuss the origins and find out if the expression is used too much.

A Second Chance by Violet Beresford, Georgia Harris, Isobel Sellers and Lee Sellers

“A Second Chance” follows Ellie, a lonely teen, who’s being bullied but dreams of being a singer. After a near-death experience, she enters a beautiful forest where angelic spirits help her rediscover joy, friendship, and her spark. Sent back to the real world, she narrowly avoids tragedy and begins to truly live. In the future, Ellie becomes the singer she always dreamed of, not through her phone, but by finding her strength within.

Colo(u)rful 3D SQUARE by Dylan Quick

A boy lives very happily in his black and white world until colour shows up.

Communication by Indianna Thompson & Lily Stoll

Two teenagers are very confident when chatting online but things are different in person.

Cooking with Frankie & Pina by Aria, Frankie & Pina Macedone

Twins Frankie and Pina take you through baking a cake for their Nanna on her birthday. Like most things that they try to do together, total mayhem ensues and there is more culinary carnage than anyone bargained for.

Escalate by Edan Merritt

A hungry young man is so quick to take action that he doesn’t even take a moment to stop, breathe and think. If we all just take a few seconds to do this it might save us hours of stress and despair.

Knock Knock by Jade & Billie Chipper

‘Knock Knock’ is a short film following the ventriloquist doll, Louie, as he pursues his childhood dream of becoming a comedian. However, his frightening looks lends himself to making people scream, rather than laugh. Lucky for the odd couple who find him sleeping in their caravan, they see the potential in Louie for something sinister. This no-dialogue short film explores the nature of individuality, and the struggle to hold on to ones uniqueness in the face of criticism from society.

Looking for Parking by Charlie Truong

The adventures of a goofy driver looking for parking.

Maxton and the Moon by Alexis Truong

Curious young traveller Maxton climbs a staircase that reaches all the way to the moon. But as soon as he steps onto the lunar surface, the staircase vanishes!

Mission Peanut by George Crawford-Werry

A friendly duck from outer-space ventures into uncharted territory to search for several missing peanuts. Across his journey he runs into new people and sees new things. Can he find the missing peanuts and is he really friendly?

NAIVE by Aston Di Donato

A group of teenagers slowly drift apart as academic pressure takes over their friendship.

Namaste by Emma Scully & Hazel

The new yoga teacher has a new student. Lucky their are some instructions that will guide them through the process.

Emma and Hazel are both 5 years old, they have been best friends since they were 2. They created this idea during a holiday workshop.

Out of the Box by Hope St & Milk Crate Theatre

A young boy in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo wants to take boxing lessons but his family doesn’t have the money to pay for them. However, a young girl who lives down the street offers to train him for free. When a big boxing tournament comes to town, only one of them can win.

Our Future, Our Way by Kyran Paul Vlasoff

8 year old Kyran is tasked with thinking of what the future looks like by his teacher. He imagines a number of futuristic possibilities before deciding on what the future might be for his generation.

Paradise by Ella Grace Helton & Mike L. Germaine

A young filmmaker with a vision for a music video goes on to write her debut original song and storyboard that vision into an epic adventure around the world with her friend.

Someone Like Me – An Allegory About Belonging by Megan West, Ashley Black & Beau Roberts and Students from the Callaghan College Jesmond Campus

Someone Like Me- An Allegory About Belonging is a poignant stop-motion animation that delves into themes of identity, emotion, and belonging through the eyes of a faceless mannequin doll. Crafted by students from our Support Unit, the film follows the mannequin’s journey through surreal and often unwelcoming worlds, including towering kitchens, wild oceans, and corporate offices. Each meticulously animated scene challenges the audience to convey deep meaning through movement, sound, and visual storytelling. The result is a powerful exploration of the human experience, rendered in tactile, handmade frames that invite us to reflect on our own sense of self and place in the world.

Take the Shot by Johnny, Alan, Sebastian, Thiago, Alex, Aarya, Nihira, James from The Hills Drama School

Two girls want to join a casual game of basketball. To join the games, one of them must make a shot to prove they can play.

The Brother Duel by Andy Tang

Two brothers fight to the death over an insult.

The City by Elina Myshanych

Sisters Sasha and Kira survive together in a post-apocalyptic world ruined by war. Sudden deadly flashes strike, while dangerous gangs roam around. But there must be the city out there where people still live, right?

An alien creature watches the sisters from space. Maybe it knows the answer?

The Darwin Awards: Dumb Ways to Die by the Intermediate Class at Centre Stage Academy of Performing Arts

Every year people die in the dumbest way possible. This year at The Darwin Awards they are choosing the dumbest way to die this year. Everything from a bandage wrapping incident, to a Christmas tree accident, a skateboard gone awry, a bird Tik-Tok video and metal in a microwave. Just who will win?

The Heist by Jonathan Shaw & Josh and Joyce

An evil organisation known as “The Exec” take over a local school and implement a cruel and heartless healthy eating policy for the school canteen. A pair of creative students emerge to strike back at “The Exec” in this fun and light-hearted film.

Joyce and Josh both attend a NSW Department of Education School for Specific Purposes, catering to students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities.

They Call me BART by Zac Deren

Bartholomew is a teenage boy who lives in a magnificent mansion and is home-schooled by his awesome dad. Although he has a grand lifestyle, he becomes increasingly bored and feels it’s time to go to high school. So he sets off on an exciting adventure embracing change, making new friends and learning how to stand up for what’s right. Oh, I forgot to mention… Bartholomew and his dad are vampires!

The Missing Cookie by Reily, Saira & Maiya from The Hills Drama School

When a cookie goes missing a detective is on the case by Aaron Scully, Reilly, Sara and Maiya

Transformation by Lucette Meisner

A young girl thinks she wants one thing but discovers that all is not as she thought it would be and she was happy all along.

Waves and Legends by Indie Jones

A Short Film about Home, culture and legends

Based around my own cultural history and the mythology behind it, this short film explores other cultures seen in Australia and how they connect.

AND here are the 16 best smartphone shorts for our Gala Finals (in alphabetical order):

Cactus by Brandon Geoffrey Fairly & Steve Wilson-Alexander

A man struggling with addiction is inspired by a plant to turn his life around.

DRIFTER by Kieton Beilby & Damian Overton

Plagued by a growing paranoia, a man isolates himself from the world to disconnect from reality.

Echo by Denise Roberts

In a powerless apartment shrouded in darkness, Clem and Rob huddle together, a flickering flashlight their only defense against the unknown. A strange sound at the door and a haunting, distorted whisper warn them they’re not alone. In one chilling moment, Clem realizes the truth: whatever is in the dark is wearing a familiar face.

Fed Up by Nathan Colquhoun

In a clash of cultures, cuisines, and tennis loyalties, a Serbian-Australian family Christmas unravels when one guest unknowingly brings their greatest enemy to the table – Roger Federer.

Le Pointe Finale by Dianne Weller

Crushed by a relentless tide of bullying, a schoolgirl’s desperate pleas go unanswered/ Until, feeling abandoned and unseen, she’s forced to confront the devastating, irreversible choice she believes is her only escape.

My Wife Made Me Talk by Philippe Klaus

A Vietnam war bride takes English classes to disguise her accent. But as her husband struggles to adapt to civilian life, she finds settling into Australia more difficult than foreseen…

Starring award winning actor Kathy Luu (Rhapsody of Love, The Good Place), this is a fresh take on a silent film with an all original score.

Our Tallulah by Stephen Lord

A young girl (10 years old), played by Molly Cartwright (The Conjuring: Last Rites), is struggling and is in desperate need of parental guidance. The sudden loss of her grandmother, the recent birth of her baby brother, her mother’s release from prison and her father spiralling into addiction, engulf her life.

Tallulah is at a loss and looking for help.

Skin Hunger by Thomas Finch & Lena Fellows

When a young carer takes on the responsibility of a spirited elderly woman, their daily interactions transform into a profound exploration of human connection, vulnerability, and the healing power of touch.

Squashbox by SJ van Breda

SQUASHBOX is a short poetic documentary that tells the story of the history, meeting, and work of Qadasi & Maqhinga, a SAMA (South African Music Award) Award-winning South African maskandi duo.

Qadasi & Maqhinga are a Maskandi duo on a mission to revive and celebrate the powerful sounds of traditional Maskandi music. Both highly accomplished artists in their own right, their shared vision and unique synergy have produced a world-class fusion that resonates with audiences locally and internationally — a sound deeply rooted in the heritage of South African folk and Zulu culture.

Sundown Syndrome by Claudia Carmen Fick & Livia Hendricks

From the gentle chaos of a warm family kitchen where the weight of motherhood once consumed her, to the cold stark present where memory no longer holds. Haunted by the relentless ticking of a clock and the ghost of a ringing phone, Elsie relives a life of love, duty and loss of self as reality fractures. Elsie is caught in the haunting beauty of a life she once longed to escape but now cannot quite let go of.

SUPERBOYFRIEND by Kristy McDonnell & Nehir Hatipoglu

When Elys is disillusioned by her boyfriend, she decides to take matters into her own hands. And since it’s 2050 —that means changing him, entirely. In this Sci-Fi horror, audiences are invited to question the cost of “The Perfect Partner”.

The 5-Minute Empire by Tez Frost

Self-made guru prepares for his first speaking event, but faces challenges when hustling for the spotlight.

The Devil You Don’t Know by Tyrone Bruinsma

A young woman haunted by a dark entity seeks an exorcism from a Chinese spiritualist. However, it soon becomes apparent that this dark entity will not let her go without a fight.

Umami by Aida Bahrami

Visiting Paris with her indifferent husband, Charlotte encounters an escort who opens her eyes to the world of sex for hire. Invited to meet a client herself, she returns to put her marriage on a new footing.

Unsaved by Kirk Mihelakos

When productive order dissolves into subtle chaos, an office worker begins to question what holds her world together.

Viol8te by Narelle Nash

One Man. One Woman. One night. An examination of gender dynamics and female rage. How accepting are we as a society of raw expressions of female anger? When the lines of justice and revenge are blurred, which side are you on?

Come see them on the big screen at the Sydney Opera House!