Lessons is currently touring film festivals internationally and can only be viewed publicly via festival screenings. In April/May 2022, it will be screened at our home festival, the Gold Coast Film Festival, as part of the Emerge film program, inspiring student filmmakers from around Queensland and Australia.
People.
In “Lessons”, award-winning cinematographer Jude Kalman partners with debut screenwriter Summer Brown whose script delivers a heartwrenching snapshot of her lived experience of domestic abuse through the eyes of children, learning lessons for life.
What are your kids learning?
Summer now heads up the Impact Film Challenge and is teaming up with schools across Australia, mentoring in the industry to help teenagers express the issues they face through film production and screenwriting.
Production:
Creative: Summer Brown
Director / DOP / Editor: Jude Kalman
Executive Producer: Brett McCallum & Media8
DOP: Jake Lawlor
Camera Assistant: Isaac Lawlor
Actor dad: Andy Sparnon
Actor mum: Illana Collins
Actor teenager: Skylah Burns
Actor teenager: Judson Gainfort
Actor child: Cruze King
Deliverable: 1 x 1min micro film
Impact.
Award Winner – Poe Film Festival 2021 (USA) – Best Documentary
Award Winner – Tokyo International Short Film Festival 2021 (Japan) – Best Female Director
Award Winner – Calcutta International Cult Film Festival 2021 (India) – Women’s Films
Award Winner – Toronto Independent Film Festival 2021 (Canada) – Short Short (Under 5 Mins)
Award Winner – Dili International Film Festival 2021 (Timor Leste) – Public Service Announcement
Award Winner – Hong Kong World Film Festival 2021 (Hong Kong) – Best Under 5 Minute Film
Award Winner – Independent Shorts Awards 2021 (USA) – Best Micro Film
Official Selection – LAMPA International Film Festival 2021 (Russia) – Social Advertising
Official Selection – City of Angels Women’s Film Festival 2021 (USA) – Short Shorts
Official Selection – Infinity Film Festival 2021 (UK) – Best Micro Short
Official Selection – Idlewild International Film Festival 2021 (USA) – Micro Short Narratives
Official Selection – YoFiFest, The Yonkers Film Festival 2021 (USA) – Short Shorts
Official Selection – Canberra Short Film Festival 2021 (Australia) – 2 Minute Film
Official Selection – Ridgway Independent Film Festival 2021 (USA) – Professional category
Official Selection – Norwalk Film Festival 2021 (USA) – Commercials
Official Selection – Festival Angaelica 2021 (USA) – Mini
Official Selection – Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival 2022 (USA) – Narrative Short
Official Selection – Kalakari Film Festival 2022 (India) – Short Fiction Special Awards
Official Selection – The French Duck Film Festival 2022 (France) – Best Micro Short Film
A pilot course is currently running where students are creating, filming and editing their own short films.