Short Film Fest Introductions (2025)
Films at the Bundy presented a short film program in June 2025. These notes are taken from introductions by Terri Allen (first half) and Michael Wootton (second half).
Bird Drone (Jegatheva 2023)
Bird Drone is an animation by a young director Radheya Jegatheva from Western Australia. It’s a story featuring a lonely seagull and a drone with a limited battery life. This story was conceived when the writer, Claire Toonan, looked up to a blue sky and saw one seagull and one drone - and she wondered about what the birds think of drones. The film is a short love story but also a labour of love, taking the director three years to make. This film has been selected 37 times for short film festivals across the world, 38 now! Bird Drone has received 16 awards.
Flute Making and Human Making (Happen Films 2024)
This documentary from Happen Films in Aotearoa/New Zealand looks at the crafting of a Japanese shakuhachi flute, from harvesting the bamboo to beautiful music. Buddhist teacher Tarchin Hearn and blind flute maker Kelvin Falconer ask us to meditate on our own crafting, our own fluteness. This film is part of a series where three film makers made four short films each, aimed at creating something beautiful for the world. The series explores how small acts of kindness can ripple out, touch hearts and change the world, and outlines a forgiving and creative approach to becoming a fully realised human being.
Over the Hill (Nash 2024)
The first half of our program concludes with a film by producer Angus Webb-Ware and director Chloe Nash. These two young film makers graduated in 2024 from Swinburne University School of Television and Film. Angus is the son of a friend of ours and Chloe is a Gippsland girl from Sale. Over the Hill is set in rural Victoria and the intergenerational story is one that might resonate with most of us in one way or another. Short films give young film makers a chance to practice and are often a much more accessible format as they have a lower budget than features. I believe that set construction and catering was a family affair - and we’re happy to welcome Chloe’s dad to this screening, too!
Plevel/Weeds (Kazak 2024)
We kick off the second half of our program with Plevel (or Weeds), a Czech animation directed by Pola Kazak. We believe this may be its premier screening in Australia! Immediately, you’ll notice that Plevel has a unique animation and art style, created by oil painting on glass. It is slightly wild, unrefined and imperfect - much like weeds The film follows one woman’s efforts at maintaining a garden, resisting change and the fear of what could come. The idea for the film originated in 2015 at the height of the refugee crisis in Europe. The story and animation style challenge us to accept change - not living in fear, but embracing a greater capacity to love. I agree with the vision, but I would use glyphosate on any weeds in my garden.
The Moogai (Bell 2020)
The Moogai is an Australian horror directed by Jon Bell (who is a Wiradjuri / Bundjalung / Yaegl man). This short was released in 2020, and Bell returned to the concept to create a feature length film of the same name which was released last year. This eerie film combines the concept of the Moogai - a Bundjalung word for “bad spirit”, a boogeyman of sorts - and the trauma of the Stolen Generations, the theft of Indigenous children from their families.
Lemon (Freemantle 2023)
Lemon is an Australian short directed by James Freemantle and as the tag line says, “when life gives you lemons, sometimes that’s just what you need”. The story is about peoples’ ability to love after loss and the importance of friendship. Fascinatingly, Lemon was slapped together in two days, with two actors and a skeleton crew, while Freemantle was in the middle of making training videos for a client and wanted to blow off some creative steam.
Above Sinai (Zarmati 2024)
Our final film of the night is Above Sinai, directed by Kylie Zarmati. This tells the story of professional kite surfer Sarah Sadek at her home on the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. This film has a similar vibe to ‘Girls can’t Surf’ and the challenges women still face in sporting contexts. Above Sinai presents Sarah’s struggles as a woman in a male dominated sport, and explores how it feels to challenge society’s norms and culture. I am sure you, too, will get some big air, as we take off with the second half of the film festival!