First Contact (2011) Dir M Richards : Prod Four Anchor Island/The Guerin Group/VCA
Living on the edge of a giant, remote salt lake, a father and daughter eke out a frugal existence in self-imposed exile.
Their calm yet monotonous world is shattered with the discovery of a mysterious black man. On the verge of death, the strangers arrival throws them into conflict, stirring up fears and forcing them to confront the very things they've been hiding from.
First Contact not only tells a story of family but also raises many questions to do with Australia's attitudes of race, origin and immigration.
SCREENINGS
Tbilisi International Student Film Festival "AMIRANI 2012" - May 7-11th 2012 (Georgia)
Short Film Today: Award-Winning Short Films from Australia - May 23rd 2012 (USA)
14th Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival - June 2-6th 2012 (Israel)
Featuring - Olaf Savage, Isabel MacMaster, Ian Harry
Director - Matt Richards
Associate Producers - Brendan Guerin, Matt Richards
Cinematography - Matt Wood
Sound Recording - Jim Walter
Editor - Patrick McCabe
Sound Design - John Nguyen
Production Design - Daniel Buckland
Format – 4.5K HD 2.33:1 // Duration – 22 mins
Winner - $1500 : Digital Pictures and the VCA 'Outstanding Script Award (Masters)'
Winner - $1500 : Margaret Lawrence Justice Award.
Winner - $1000 : Film Victoria 'Best Masters By Coursework Production'
Winner - $1000+ screening : Cinema Nova 'Best Potential For Theatrical Distribution'
$6000 was successfully raised towards financing the film via crowdfunding platform pozible.com