A feature documentary, an animation short, and a comedy short. Note these excellent films to watch at Sydney Film Festival 2023 by UTS filmmaking alums!
Transition by Jordan Bryon (B/Communications - Media Arts Production, 2011)
Jordan Bryon is a BAFTA award-winning filmmaker and journalist, who also has an Emmy and Human Rights Press Award. Jordan has been living in Afghanistan for a decade, documenting life for the people there before and after pull out of allied forces. In this astonishing film, Jordan documents his own gender transition while embedded with Taliban forces in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul. More via Sydney Film Festival. Also in competition at Tribeca Film Festival 2023. Nominated for a BAFTA.
Kariwa by Kiara Rodriguez-Hextall (B/Design - Animation, 2022)
First Nations animator Kiara Rodriguez-Hextall's film depicts a young Indigenous woman coming to terms with her identity and relearn to be proud of her culture. See Sydney Film Festival page for more information.
'The Dancing Girl and The Balloon Man' by David Ma
(B/Communication - Media Arts Production, B/International Studies 2016)
Romance blooms between a dim sum shop assistant and a street performer in Chinatown, who carries them in the safety of his balloon on a rainy night. Starring fellow FASS alum Jonathan Lo. Sydney Film Festival info.
*Update: Winner of the Dendy Award for Best Live action short. Congratulations David and Team!