MWFF - Reel Shorts

Reel Shorts presents a collection of captivating and uplifting documentaries delving into the true and human stories from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Moana. From intimate portraits of artists and sports icons to intercultural and intergenerational connections, these films offer diverse perspectives of the world around us.

Films

Taonga An Artist Activist Dir. Glenda Tuaine | 2022 | 15 mins

Mike’s life story is a journey of art, his connection to artistic expression in all its forms is what wakes him up in the morning and sees him retire to bed late at night. This short documentary seeks to capture Mike’s connection with art and teaching. How he experiments and pushes boundaries when others will remain cautious. How he provokes and questions the status quo always seeking knowledge and answers to questions that others may be too conservative to ask.

More Than Cute Dir. Joshinder K Chaggar | 2022 | 15 mins A Seniors Bollywood dance class in Melbourne is the perfect intercultural setting to discover new friendships and to unpack misconceptions about ageing. Through the lens of the traditional costume, stories are uncovered and shared. At the same time and underneath all the fun, colour and laughter, a miraculous healing is taking place on many different levels.

Our Mob Dir. Lliane Clarke | 2022 | 5 mins

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this film may contain images, voices and videos of deceased persons.

Brenda Saunders’ Nan lived in a tiny workers cottage next to the boot factory near the Redfern station. Perplexed by the twists and turns of family life, the ties that seemed to grow more complicated year by year, she learnt her Nan was part of the Stolen Generation, constantly looking for family members, with a tangle of knots too sad or too hard to undo.

Scratched: Erin Baker Dir. Natalie Wilson | 2022 | 15 mins

When triathlete Erin Baker couldn’t remove a punctured bike tyre during a race, she pulled it off with her teeth. This is the story of a world champion who dominated the international multi-sport circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, and was prepared to do whatever it took to succeed.

Aloha Soul Food Dir. Lani Cupchoy | 2022 | 12 mins

Merging personal memoir and photojournalism, Aloha Soul Food nostalgically explores decolonial foodways through the family life stories of six Pacific Island women. A transnational story set in Los Angeles, California, the documentary embodies an intergenerational love story to working class women deeply rooted in Hawai’i while skillfully examining a century of how they navigated through the Chinese exclusion Acts, the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, 1960s school cafeterias, the United Public Workers Strike in 1979, and the Women’s Army Core. The film shows how generations can reclaim identity and historical spaces through recipes while reminding us of the deep ties that bind our families and communities together.

My Uterus is Trying to Kill Me Dir. Emily Michelle Eilers, Hannah Louise Ranger | 2022 | 20 mins

My Uterus is Trying to Kill Me is a short documentary looking to spread awareness about endometriosis. Due to the invasive nature of the diagnostic process, endometriosis can have profound effects on an individuals life. The documentary tells stories of various people living with endometriosis and their unique journeys, from diagnosis to coping with a chronic illness daily. By showing people casually and confidently talking about their experiences, we hope to normalise the discussion around what is currently a taboo topic.

The Golden Rollers Dir. Jennifer ‘JP’ Piper | 2021 | 7 mins

A group of friends aged 69 to 99 refuse to hang up their skates and give up on fun.