BBFF2023 | Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year
115 Young Australian Filmmakers entered BBFF’s coveted Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year Competition this year. This session features the top 10 Nominees for 2023.
12:30pm Saturday 21 October at Palace Cinemas
Also plays at The Regent
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TAYLOR VENTER
Cathy’s Doll
A watchful little girl observes shades of grief at her father’s funeral, ultimately coming to terms with loss in her own unique way.
Taylor Venter (she/her) is a Writer/Director/Producer based in Sydney, Australia. A graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and University of Sydney, she is driven by a love of sharp, empathic, and courageous storytelling.
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HARVEY OTTO ABRAHAMS
Substratum
A young heir to a dictatorship navigates an isolated world of power and control. A solitary gesture of peace leads to tragic revelations in this stark allegory of inherited violence and the urgent need for empathy.
Harvey is an 18-year-old student with a passion for filmmaking, who has spent six years honing skills in post-production, drawing from a background in music, visual art, and acting. As a jazz pianist and flautist, he composes his own film scores, continuously learning and aspiring to inspire others through the art of film.
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MAGGIE BRITTINGHAM
Me, My Ralph & I
9 year old Lenora, and her imaginary friend, Ralph the lion, try their best to protect their friendship from the impending breakdown of Lenora’s family.
Maggie (24) is an award-winning Writer/Director and Producer based in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. Having recently completed a Bachelor of Film and Television with Honours in Writing and Directing, Maggie currently works in Film and Television assisting some of Australia's most acclaimed Writers and Directors.
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FINEGAN SAMPSON
Teach Me How To Cry
Unable to tap into his emotions on stage, a middle-aged struggling actor is given one last chance to prove himself, and in turn, takes a class with an acting coach who promises to transform his performance.
Finegan (22) is an aspiring writer & director with a background in film from a young-age. Fin first ventured into the world of filmmaking in his youth through acting, appearing in feature film Predestination as well as a variety of other shows and shorts.
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AIMEE PATMORE
Pinch
A high school student battles a silent illness which she hides from her mother.
Pinch is Aimees’ directorial debut and was inspired during the pandemic while teaching music students, Aimee witnessed the increase in mental health concerns amongst youth as they navigated an ever changing world. She chose to focus on an eating disorder as it is a health epidemic that is one of the least understood and funded in Australia and globally.
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CAMERON MITCHELL
Porcelain
Adapting to her new home in Melbourne, Vietnam War immigrant Hanh (9 years old) mistakes the cunningness of her new “friends” as an act of kindness, forcing her to come to terms with the reality of human betrayal through the loving and tender guide of her family - especially her father, Quan.
Cameron (22) possesses a love for visual based storytelling and flair. His eye for visuals and how they can tell a story is one of his greatest strengths and assets as a filmmaker, and is highlighted through his directorial debut Porcelain.
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CHRISTINA YU
Tapwater
On an ordinary evening, a young woman realises that the tap-water does not need to be disinfected.
Christina Yu (18) is a young filmmaker born in Wuxi, China, who moved to Melbourne, Australia, at the age of 12. She is passionate about exploring the fusion of different artistic mediums to achieve effective media communication and aims to embrace the art of storytelling, aspiring to become an auteur for her generation.
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JOANNA ZHAO
Things Are Good
A high schooler has the determination to live a picture-perfect life, curating pleasant memories in the form of still frames; memories she has a habit of tampering with as if it were Photoshopped.
Jo Zhao (24) is a Chinese-Australian Filmmaker born and raised in Sydney. After moving to Los Angeles, she graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a BA in Film, where she focused her studies on Directing and Cinematography. She is a creator of diverse films including narrative, experimental, music video, fashion, and commercial projects.
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WILL CALLEJA
The Trials and Tribulations of Being Jordan
Jordan is a troubled teen making her way through high school. A deep resentment in her current lifestyle has caused her to re-evaluate how she lives her life and how she deals with social anxiety.
Will (18) is an award winning filmmaker from the western suburbs of Melbourne. Passionate about film making, he enjoys the entire process of making a film, from the pre production to the everything within the post production.
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JACK VOEGT
Tint
Lance can't seem to shake an awkward encounter after a stranger touches his hair.
In Tint Jack Voegt (18), plays Lance and is a writer, director and actor focusing on projects that are often offbeat and naturalistic. His approach is decidedly collaborative, inviting and involving many different people of different creeds, cultures and genders to speak to his larger creative vision.
SESSION TIMES
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PALACE BYRON BAY
Sunday 21 Oct
12:30pm
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THE REGENT MURWILLUMBAH
Friday 27 Oct
5:25pm