Top 5 Finalists Announced for AACTA Pitch: Focus

TOP 5 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR AACTA PITCH: FOCUS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SONY

 The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), in partnership with Sony, is pleased to announce the Top 5 finalists for AACTA Pitch: Focus 2025. Now in its fifth year, AACTA Pitch: Focus empowers Australian student filmmakers to transform their ideas into fully realised short films with expert industry guidance and support.

This year’s finalists explore a wide range of stories, from family conflict to the complexities of relationships, all grounded in the shared human experience. Together, they highlight the diversity of voices and perspectives emerging from the next generation of Australian filmmakers, showcasing the creativity and ambition shaping the future of our screen industry. 

Kylie du Fresne, AACTA Pitch Focus Judge and Partner & Producer at Goalpost Pictures said “Australian student filmmakers continue to inspire us with their creativity and innovation. This year, the applications were exceptionally strong, making our decision even more challenging! It’s thrilling to see the next generation of storytellers—passionate about the industry, pushing boundaries, and shaping the future of Australian filmmaking."

The top 5 finalists for AACTA Pitch Focus in Partnership with Sony are:

Bluebirds - Australian Film Television and Radio School

Nicola Sercombe, Chhayly Moek, Sarah Whyte, Rikkili Clark, Luis Rumbolo

When imaginative nine-year-old Lisa discovers an elderly woman underneath her floorboards, she uncovers the truth about the people closest to her.

Fortune Tellers -University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology

Yash Gor, Lucy Ingham-Myers, Zack Philips, Joshua Roberts

Three tellers at the Bank of Lady Luck discuss their clients while on their tea break; a struggling student, a prosperous Businesswoman and a love-struck Barista, all of whom have taken on 'luck loans' - asking for good luck in one aspect of their lives for bad luck in other aspects. The three stories intertwine to demonstrate how their different luck loans interact to help fulfil their individual goals at unforeseen costs.

Strawflower- New York Tisch School of the Arts, University of Technology Sydney, JMC Academy Sydney, AFTRS, Sydney Conservatorium of Music

Lucia Cozzi, Shaela Gosper, Guy Burlinson, Ella Stone Richards, Imogen Tyler, Noah Bloom

Strawflower is a poetic and visually rich short film that meditates on the quiet decay of a once-flourishing relationship. Set in a sun-drenched vegetable garden within the Australian landscape, it follows two young people—Thea and Felix—as they navigate the emotional complexity of parting ways. While love lingers between them, it may no longer be enough to hold them together. The story aims to depict a relationship that is neither toxic nor ideal—just profoundly human.

The Cycle - Griffith University, French Beauty Academy

Olivia Edwards, Lily Podlich, Maya Podlich

An experimental music video that immerses viewers in the harrowing and repetitive cycle of an abusive relationship, using powerful choreography and visual motifs to explore love, pain, and the struggle to break free.

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager, Ivan Vukusic, said: Congratulations to our talented finalists, and my thanks to this year's panel of mentors for helping to select such a strong field. We're incredibly proud of the results of this initiative, made possible with the invaluable support of SONY. We wish the teams the best of luck as they progress through the final stage".

Each finalist team will now receive a state-of-the-art Sony equipment kit on loan, valued at over $2,500, to produce a short proof-of-concept film. These projects will then be presented to a panel of our judges to determine the 2025 recipient. Following the judges’ deliberation, the final recipient of AACTA Pitch: Focus 2025 will be awarded a $15,000 production fund and a $20,000 Sony camera equipment loan package, to bring their vision to life.

Previous recipients have gone on to create AACTA-nominated and festival-winning short films, using the program as a launchpad to establish professional careers and forge valuable industry connections. 

Fore more information about the initiative see here.