Live Action Film

Giorgie Zafiropoulos

Loreto Mandeville Hall, Toorak
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Elderly man in a black priest's robe stands in an ornate church, facing a wall of religious icons and intricate wooden carvings. — *Pappoú* by Giorgie Zafiropoulos. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Pappoú

Documentary, 7 minutes

This biographical, expository documentary illustrates my grandfather’s career as a priest in the St Constantine and Helen Church. It shows his impact on the lives of many people as well as his recent dementia diagnosis. This documentary aims to raise awareness about dementia, providing comfort to those who have a relative with the same condition. While providing solace to the audience, it celebrates life and emphasises that those who are impacted are not defined by the condition.

Perry Moon

Swinburne Senior Secondary College, Hawthorn
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

An elderly man and a younger person sit across from each other at a wooden table in a dimly lit room, heads bowed. A vase of flowers can be seen on shelves behind them. — *Bloom* by Perry Moon. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Bloom

Drama, 9 minutes

Bloom is a naturalistic drama that aims to evoke empathy and an understanding about the emotional toll of caregiving. Through its slow pacing and a raw, documentary-like style, the film seeks to authentically portray the struggles of relationships impacted by illness. While relatable to a broad audience, it resonates most with those familiar with caregiving challenges. Ultimately, the film strives to leave viewers reflective, emotionally connected, and aware of the complexities of ageing and family dynamics.

Rachel McLennan

Loreto Mandeville Hall, Toorak
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Wait

Music Video, 3 minutes

Wait is a music video for Yuto’s house song of the same name. It presents a non-linear narrative that includes elements of thriller and mystery. Using music video conventions, the narrative follows the point of view of Katya who is running away from the person suspected to have caused her best friend to disappear. The film aims to appeal to viewers who appreciate visually appealing cinematography, using interesting lighting and colour grading to create a surreal energy throughout.

Tadhg Sheehan

Westbourne Grammar School, Truganina
Boon Wurrung Bunurong Country

Young boy in a flannelette shirt stands examining a vinyl record, against a backdrop of green hills and blue sky. — *Off the Record* by Tadhg Sheehan. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Off the Record

Supernatural Thriller, 6 minutes

Set in the 1980s, a young boy rides his bike around an old creek and stumbles across a mysterious box of records next to an even more mysterious sewer hole. After taking home, and playing one of the records, the boy has a strange encounter in his dreams. Off the Record aims to capture the nostalgic feelings connected to childhood exploration while twisting the experience to evoke phycological unease.

Ethan Sculley

Ballarat Grammar, Wendouree
Wathaurong Wadda Wurrung Country

Silhouetted figure stands facing a large bonfire whose tall flames flicker against a darkened backdrop. — *The Flames Within* by Ethan Sculley. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

The Flames Within

DRama, 4 minutes

An ex-firefighter battles with PTSD and the memories of his past, highlighting the emotional and mental struggles often faced by first responders. The film sheds light on the broader issue of mental health in emergency services, where one in three first responders develop PTSD. It offers an insight into the hidden scars carried by those who risk their lives for others.

Alex Feehan

St Kevin's College, Toorak
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Underwater view of a swimmer wearing goggles and board shorts, diving into a tiled pool. — *Survivor* by Alex Feehan. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Survivor

Drama, 5 minutes

Staged in real-time, a teenage boy swims a single lap of an indoor swimming pool, simultaneously confronting his deepest fears through a series of haunting flashbacks. Emulating the dreamlike cinematography of Christopher Doyle, the film explores the lingering effects of grief and survivor's guilt, urging the audience to reflect upon the unconscious fragility of their own relationships.

Ryan Ma

Highvale Secondary College, Glen Waverley
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Black-and-white image of two musicians in dark clothing, each holding wind instruments, standing against a plain wall with solemn expressions. — *THE SOLO* by Ryan Ma. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

THE SOLO

Drama, 8 minutes

When Nina and Dexter, the two best saxophonists at their school, are given the opportunity to play a solo at a life-changing concert, their friendship shifts from one of mutual tolerance to one of sabotage and envy. THE SOLO explores the darker sides of human nature, using the differing perspectives of the characters to reveal the complex emotions behind their competition.

Thicia Acquisto

Melbourne Girls' College, Richmond
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Soldier in camouflage and a young person in a red-striped jacket stand facing each other in a misty bush clearing. — *Abu Abu (The Mist)* by Thicia Acquisto. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Abu Abu (The Mist)

magic realism, 10 minutes

Set in 1976, 14-year-old Zé and his family are Timorese refugees living in Australia, one year after Indonesia invaded Portuguese Timor. Magic realism allows the film to incorporate Timorese animist beliefs, critical to the narrative, and to represent Zé’s trauma in a way not possible in realism. Like Taviani’s magic realist Night of the Shooting Stars, Abu Abu offers audiences a way to understand the trauma of war, to find peace and to heal.

William Genat

Templestowe College, Templestowe Lower
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Four elegantly dressed people sit and stand on a sandy beach, surrounded by luggage and crates. Waves and a rocky outcrop are seen in the background. — *A Family Affair* by William Genat. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

A Family Affair

mockumentary/crime, 10 minutes

A faux documentary chronicling Melbourne’s most notorious crime family when they are thrust into hiding following a chaotic garden party. Inspired by the works of Martin Scorsese and mockumentary conventions, A Family Affair satirically explores the complexities of family and the absurdity of the criminal underworld.

Jackson Bertram

Wantirna College, Wantirna
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

A figure in dark clothing and a white animal mask stands alone in a misty forest clearing, surrounded by tall trees and wild grass. — *The Culling* by Jackson Bertram. Top Designs 2025. Courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

The Culling

Dystopian Thriller, 6 minutes

Set in a dystopian future, The Culling follows a teenager who wakes in the middle of nowhere. He is soon thrown into a fight to the death against a masked stranger, only to find the disturbing reality of winning. This film serves as a reflection of societal morals and issues, pushing them to an extreme to provoke awareness and inspire thought.

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Stylised blue dog wearing a beanie leans forward with a tired expression, while a spiky pink creature with three yellow eyes glares behind it.