Melbourne Lift-Off Film Festival 2024
Network Round Shorts

Monday 16th December - Sunday 22nd December

1. Glimpse of Childhood
Director/Writer: Nizami Murtuzayev
Producers: Ohia Morrison,Grace Ward
Country of Origin: Azerbaijan
Synopsis: On her birthday, a young girl finds herself in the company of a guilt-ridden and emotionally detached family, where each member grapples with personal challenges in an attempt to rise above their troubles.

2. Caroline
Director/Writer/Producer: Chanelle Hayden
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis: Shot on Super 8mm and Digital - Mixed race sisters Darcie (18) and Roma (30) navigate their complicated relationship and growing pains, as Darcie approaches 18. Roma finds herself struggling to let go of her parental relationship with her sister and navigate what it means to be a sister again.

3. FOTOAUTOMAT
Director/Writer/Producer: Rémy Mégard
Producers: Johnathan Hibberd,Emilienne Paul
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis:  A mysterious photo-booth, a serial dater and a hopeless romantic. What could go wrong?

Gabriel works at a cafe, part of his duties involve taking care of an eerie old photo-booth. Which is, coincidentally, Elise's go to Friday night date spot, almost like clockwork. Friday comes around and all Gabriel can do is wait to catch a glimpse of her. Elise gets ready to explore a new date. Unknowingly their fates lie in the hands of the mysterious photo-booth.

4. Flight
Director/Writer/Producer: Jacqueline Muehlke
Producers: James Raydan, Kerin Haddon,Joel Harris
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis:  When nine year old Jack comes home from school he encounters a surprise visitor that stays for dinner. Suffering his anxiety and inner demons in silence as the night progresses, Jack must overcome his own fears and realise that the people around him may be more helpful than he thought.

5. BEFORE MADRID
Director/Writer: Ilén Juambeltz,Nicolás Botana
Writers: Gonca Karasu,Ilén Juambeltz
Producer: Facundo Umpiérrez
Country of Origin: Uruguay
Synopsis:  Micaela and Santiago are a teenage couple living in a small town in Uruguay. They are very determined to have their first time, or at least try to...

6. Breakfast
Director/Writer: Jake Whitford
Director: Ben Keller
Producer: Diego Osorio
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis:  "Breakfast" (Written by Jake Whitford, Directed by Ben Keller & Jake Whitford) follows a kids party clown expressing his current state of mind through the preparation of his porridge.

7. MOTHER
Director/Writer/Producer: Adrian Marquez Barrios
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:  In the throes of overwhelming circumstances, a devoted mother faces insurmountable challenges, ultimately compelled to take matters into her own hands. However, her actions, intended as a solution, unravel a web of unforeseen complications, plunging her into an even more complex and daunting situation.

8. Cymebelle
Director/Writer/Animator: Linn Htut Oo
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis:  Cymebelle is a haunting psychological mystery that unfolds in a remote village, where grief, denial, and secrets entwine. At the heart of the story is a widow who, after suffering a devastating miscarriage, clings to her child. She would carry the lifeless baby through the village as if it were alive, unsettling the villagers and igniting whispers of fear and confusion. As tension grows, the village Chief struggles to maintain order, while a troubled Doctor is drawn into the widow’s unraveling world.

9. Verflechtung
Director/Writer/Producer: Philip Hofmänner
Director/Writer: Simon Jonas Pflanzer
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Synopsis:  In the near future, Susana's fiancé Marco decides to have a chip implanted in his brain.
Marco, who suffers from severe depression and has professional problems as a result, sees this new technology as his only chance,
not to lose touch. Susana, who originally drew his attention to the chip, soon begins to have doubts,when Marco begins to change dramatically. em>

10. A Thousand Words
Director/Producer: Vinnie Petrilli
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis:  In a society where conversations around grief and loss are often put in the 'too hard basket', A Thousand Words takes an intimate look at mother loss, through the eyes of grieving daughters.

11. Honeybee
Director: Leander Grundmann
Producer: Till Andernacht
Country of Origin: Germany
Synopsis:  A palm-sized tattoo of a black bee decorates his head. Freshly engraved and impossible to miss, the bee blends in with Aldrik. Today, however, the bees are even more important to him than usual. After careful preparations and morning meditation, it soon becomes clear that he shares many similarities with the little insects.

12. Collateral Damage
Director/Writer: Kynthia Piakis
Director/Producer: Faith Teo
Producer: Ben Pergolizzi
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis:  Collateral Damage began as a poem expressing my pain, transitioned into a song and then flourished into an animation with the help of Faith and Ben. It is written for all the children who have fallen victim to adult wars past, present and future.

13. Cheeky Monkeys
Director: Rob MacBride
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Synopsis:  A small time underworld figure struggling to close legitimate real estate dealings, grows impatient and uses his criminal connections to expedite the process.

14. Brothers
Director/Writer: Monty Harper
Producers: Monty Harper, Xavier Hedderwick, Will Assi
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis: Two best friends juggle responsibilities and put their relationship to the test after an incident occurs at a party.

15. Firelight
Director, Writer, Producer: Catherine Nickson
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis: Firelight is a short film drama set in Central Victoria during Australia's colonial era, about one man's chance encounter with the infamous Ned Kelly and his unwitting influence on the notorious bushranger's future path.