SHORT FILM FINALISTS
Michala Banas, Susie Porter and Sean Keenan among finalists.
Finalists in the 2025 CinefestOZ Short Film Competition have been announced. Recognising exceptional storytelling and talent in the short filmmaking sector of the Australian film industry – more than 250 entries were received from filmmakers across Australia – with 28 finalists in the running for awards in six categories, as selected by an independent jury of industry professionals.
Cash prizes are up for grabs in three of the six categories including Best Short Film ($5000), Best Indigenous Short Film ($2500) and the Cinewest Best WA Short Film ($2500).
The five Nominees for BEST SHORT FILM are:
- Help Everything is Fine – when a young man’s failed suicide attempt results in the death of a stranger, he calls the only person he can think of for help: his mum. Directed by Isaac Brown and starring Susie Porter (Apple Cider Vinegar) and Sean Keenan (Barons).
- I’m the Most Racist Person I Know – when a romantic gesture towards a bartender backfires, Lali unexpectedly finds herself offered a pity date by another bartender, Ana. Directed by Leela Varghese and starring Shabana Azeez, Kavitha Anandasivam
- Packed Away Em and her father need to pack away her mother’s belongings after her passing. A fairly simple act, but a difficult one. And her father really seems to be coping well. Or is he?… Directed by Michala Banas (Upper Middle Bogan) and Finegan Sampson and starring John Banas, Michala Banas
- No Feedback – While a team of professional bank robbers wait for the heist to begin, their nerves and egos clash as their penchant for improv and killer impressions threaten to unravel their meticulously laid plans. Directed by Benjamin Ryan and starring Steve Maresca, Adrian Epulso,
- Passing Signals A lonely, middle-aged man stumbles upon a peculiar television broadcast featuring a woman who can see and hear him through the screen. Captivated, the man and the woman forge an intimate connection, filling each other’s emotional void through their shared virtual intimacy. Directed by Russell Wyatt Roberts and starring Megan Aspinall and Michael Rainon.
The nominees for the five remaining categories are:
CINEWEST Best WA Film:
E Mum; She Kinda Liked The Beach; Burst; Mia
BEST DIRECTOR:
Packed Away – Michala Banas & Finegan Sampson; Dependant – Joseph Chebatte; Help Everything is Fine – Isaac Brown; Bluebird – Darwin Schulze
BEST PERFORMANCE:
Susie Porter in Help Everything is Fine; Michala Bana in Packed Away; William Todder in Soundboy; Joel Drabble in Granite Highway
SCREENWRITING:
E mum; Cordelia, Daughter of the Sea; Hero; Set Menu
BEST INDIGENOUS:
Anangu Way; Ornmol; Re-Imagining Our Futures: Birthing; Wadjemup Wirin Bidi
CinefestOZ CEO Cassandra Jordan said: “2025 is our biggest year yet for the Short Film Program with a phenomenal increase in the number and quality of short films – almost doubling last year’s entries.”
“We’re thrilled that there’s so many filmmakers working and sharing their stories, as it means festival goers have such a fantastic selection of films to watch at the festival. Narrowing down our finalists, however, has been an enjoyable challenge.
“Many of our short filmmakers are also travelling to CinefestOZ to see their films on the big screen, with some participating in Q&As at the end of each Short Film Set, so we are expecting lots of interaction and conversation at these events as well as at the Short Film Awards.”
The SHORT FILM AWARDS event includes a showcase of the five short films ahead of the Awards ceremony on Thursday 4 September at 6pm at Margaret River HEART – Nala Bardip Mia (Our Story House). Enjoy a sparkling welcome with canapés and drinks.
With so many amazing short films showing at this years festival, we know it can be hard to chose, so we have written a guide to help you select the set/s which most suits you!
Or simply join us in celebrating our winners at the SHORT FILM WINNERS session on Sunday 7 Sep at Orana Busselton. Narrowed down from over 200+ entries, this is an amazing opportunity to see an incredible selection of new & upcoming cinematic talent.