Emerging screen talent to make their mark with Footy Shorts

VicScreen, Melbourne International Film Festival and the AFL today announced the five dynamic short-film projects that have been selected for Footy Shorts.

Five emerging Victorian filmmaking teams will each make a short documentary about Australian Rules Football to premiere at MIFF 2025 in August.

An initiative of MIFF, the AFL and VicScreen, Footy Shorts offers next generation screen storytellers the opportunity to make a film that captures the deep love, traditions and connections shared through Australian Rules Football. 

These stories will showcase how the game, across its many different forms, unites and shapes Australian life whether as players, fans, families, or communities

Five projects have been financed to start production this month, with the nominated film teams receiving professional development from industry mentors, a $20,000 production budget and access to the AFL’s prized footage archive and support in accessing its Clubs.

The five Footy Shorts films will have a gala world premiere screening at MIFF and will also be available Australia-wide through MIFF Online - streaming via ACMI Cinema 3. 

The films will also be available digitally across all AFL platforms, including AFL.com.au and the AFL app. The five successful teams and their projects are:

Grace Cardona and Paige Cardona. Photo by Daniel Mahon.

Breaking The Line by Director/Editor Grace Cardona and Producer/Writer Paige Cardona
Synopsis: Breaking the Line tells the powerful story of Peta Searle whose resilience and leadership transformed women’s footy and made her the first woman to coach in the AFL.

Kynan Clarke and Isabel Dilena. Photo by Daniel Mahon.

Bush Boots by Producer/Director/Writers Kynan Clarke and Isabel Dilena 
Synopsis: In Mooroopna, boots hit the dirt long before they hit the big stage. Bush Boots honours the Indigenous footy kids and the community role models guiding them- on and off the field.

Adam Bigum and Ramas McRae. Photo by Daniel Mahon.

Eye of the Game by Director/Writer Ramas McRae and Producer Adam Bigum
Synopsis: A profoundly Deaf Australian Rules footballer defies expectations by using his unique visual skills to excel in a traditionally auditory sport, proving that passion and skill transcend spoken barriers.

Lachlan Baynes. Photo by Daniel Mahon.

House Divided by Director/Writer Danielle Baynes and Producer Lachlan Baynes
Synopsis: In Australian families, footy team allegiances run deep — inherited, fiercely defended, borderline sacred. But what happens when someone switches teams? House Divided is a warm and witty personal tale of loyalty and rebellion.

Fraser Pemberton, Alexandra Walton and Theo McMahon. Photo by Daniel Mahon.

No Prior Opportunity by Director Alexandra Walton, Producer Theo McMahon and Co-Producer Fraser Pemberton
Synopsis: Rhys Gilday, a man on the autism spectrum, and his love of AFL umpires, shine a spotlight on the game’s most misunderstood figures. No Prior Opportunity is a heartwarming, funny, and powerful tribute to passion, exclusion, and resilience on the fringes of fandom.

To find out more visit https://miff.com.au/footy-shorts

Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks said, “There's nothing more Victorian than film and footy, and Footy Shorts brings these two passions together in one fantastic initiative. The Allan Labor Government is thrilled to partner with MIFF and the AFL to support this opportunity for the next generation of screen storytellers to develop their skills, gain hands-on experience and present their work to audiences at the nation’s largest film festival.”

MIFF Artistic Director Al Cossar said, “MIFF is excited to be a part of the Footy Shorts initiative this year - launching new docs on the game that Melburnians hold dear from a range of exciting emerging filmmakers. The five teams selected are set to share stories that range from the celebrated to the unseen – from elite players to those making their name on the field, to die-hard fans and intra-family rivalries – that will bring forward the meaning of footy, through film, to Melbourne audiences.” 

AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial, Bec Haagsma said, “Aussie Rules Football is intricately entwined with the Australian way of life and has always formed an integral part of the community. Our game is full of wonderful characters, storylines and emotions that tie people together from all different backgrounds, from grassroots to the elite. The AFL is proud to be part of the Footy Shorts initiative, and I am excited to see how some of the best up and coming filmmakers bring these stories to life on the big screen.”

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “This exciting collaboration between VicScreen, MIFF and AFL will unearth the next generation of factual filmmakers ready to take on the world. The depth of filmmaking talent in Victoria is extraordinary.  In fact, the quality of the submissions was so high that VicScreen increased its support for the initiative, funding five projects instead of the originally planned four.”