VCA School of Film and Television

Arguably Russia’s most famous folk song, Dark Eyes has captured hearts around the world for the past 100 years. This portrait explores the song’s somewhat controversial history, its musical versatility and its cultural relevance. Performances by Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, a 13-piece orchestra and a Russian folk group make it clear why Dark Eyes has stood the test of time.

Emerson Hayes is a 60-year-old sculptor who lives in a caravan and works from an old shed in the back corner of her daughter’s coastal egg farm. When she is informed that her most acclaimed and last remaining work on public display is being replaced, she seeks a new home for it with family friend Lena, who curates a prestigious contemporary gallery. Lena, however, demands that Em present a fresh new work if she is to be considered for exhibition. As Em struggles to break out of her artistic rut, she is forced to reckon not only with her place in the art world, but with her entire identity.

Pitch Black takes us inside the claustrophobic worlds of three young men immersed in the online black-pill subculture, as they struggle to reckon with their actions.

Two strangers meet whilst both working a shift at a dodgy restaurant in Melbourne's CBD.

In a used-car yard lives Tony, a wacky, waving inflatable-tube man, who dreams of being more than just an advertising gimmick. Spending his days flapping in the wind and peeking in the office window, Tony is mesmerised by a commercial for an all-new, shiny red convertible. Whisked away by his imagination, he dreams of a world beyond his own and a life behind the wheel. As time moves on, Tony becomes as tired and worn as the used-car yard. But when the car he’s longed for finally arrives in the dealership, Tony is forced to break his limits to protect his dream from a group of thieves.

The once celebrated graphic designer Paul Andrews has fallen from grace. Battling against the demands of vacuous clients, deprived of his voice, he descends into an obsessive and distorted search for creative expression.

Follows Yo, Siyuan and Mia, three young women who, using the mobile application Replika, have formed romantic relationships with virtual partners. This short documentary captures the richness of these bonds, from philosophical questions to intimate moments to the real sense of security and companionship afforded by these artificially intelligent lovers.

A girl stands on a lonely road looking into the distance and into her future.

All Andrew wants is a change of scenery, but his grimy new St Kilda apartment has other ideas.

Inside a den fortified to keep people out, Josh finds himself trapped with four unstable drug dealers and a possessed bag of meth. An ancient evil with a proclivity for gratuitous acts of violence makes its way through the whacked-out inhabitants, one by one. As eyeballs are pulled out and throats are slit around him, Josh realises that, to survive, he must claw, cut and burn his way out.

A man trying to propose to his girlfriend is blindsided by the telepathic accusations of a childhood teddy bear.

When Jade’s oldest and dearest friend begins to prioritise the needs of someone new at their weekly social netball game, her deepest fear of losing the friendship begins to consume her. While the teams wait for the harsh winter rain to ease so they can resume their game, Jade aggressively attempts to win back her status during a seemingly friendly, low-stakes card game.

Adam Elliot's earliest film, Human Behavioral Case Studies, is a drawn animation rather than claymation like his other films. It's about unusual human behaviors or obsessions. At only a minute long, it's just long enough to be memorably, darkly amusing.

Follows a group of young Australians who stutter as they take part in a 10-week performing arts program to create a unique theatre piece, which they’ll perform for family and friends.

A 17 minute portrait documentary film that explores one woman’s lived experiences as a survivor of domestic violence and homelessness, told with humour and heart.

Martin was born with just 2,000 words to use in his lifetime, and once he's spoken them all, he will fall irreversibly silent. Fearful of a voiceless future, Martin decides to save his words for the perfect moment. But in being so cautious, he risks not being heard at all.

A young woman walks through a void plagued with strange objects that cause her body to physically distort. Wiping her mind in an effort to free herself, she becomes unhinged from what little reality she has.

Arriving on a cruise ship as though pulled by an invisible string, senior citizen Donald discovers an apparent murder scene. While searching for answers, he finds a second body, and an emergency is declared. When it becomes clear that the murderer is not of flesh and blood, that Donald is next in line to be killed and that the ship’s captain is a ferryman carrying his passengers to the afterlife, he and the other elderly tourists decide to make a break for it.

Ruby has started a business baking cakes from home. At the last minute, she has been tasked with creating the centrepiece cake at a friend’s wedding. Now, along with her aloof partner Tom, she must navigate a broken-down car, dismissive parents, unhelpful friends and other obstacles in order to make it to the wedding on time.

Amira, an avid gardener living in a company town controlled by the powerful EdenCorp, is shattered by the sudden and mysterious death of her husband. EdenCorp’s Acquisition Manager, Alex, arrives at her front doorstep demanding that she vacate her cherished home, accompanied by unassuming employee, Jordan, hinting at foul play by the company. Pushed to her breaking point, Amira is determined not to lose the one place that still holds the memory of her husband, and she hatches a meticulous plan for revenge.