Multicultural Film Festival 2023

Now in its fifth year, the MFF celebrates multiculturalism through the lens of short films that explore stories of cultural diversity and living in multicultural Australia, home to the world’s oldest continuous cultures and people who identify with more than 300 ancestries around the world.

Fed Square is hosting a screening of the Multicultural Film Festival 2023 program in the following order each evening:

Best Short Fiction Film Winner
Leopard
Directed by Kamil Domaradzki and Ali Zoghi
Written by Kamil Domaradzki
Produced by Ali Zoghi and Christie Heilig

A young Lebanese-Australian man struggling with his sexuality attempts to come out to his cousin and best friends on his 16th birthday.

Best Short Film Honourable Mention & People’s Choice Winner
Jia
Directed and written by Vee Shi
Produced by Nicholson Ren, Vee Shi and Taysha McFarland

Ming, a grieving Chinese mother arrives in Australia to mourn her son Yao, who was killed in a road accident. She goes on a road trip with Eric, who she learns was in a romantic relationship with Yao, which challenges her conservative values.

Best Short Non-Fiction Film Winner
Beyond The Cut
Directed, written, and produced by Daniel Guerrero

It was 1968 when a 14-year-old Italian, Paul De Luca, walked into a barber shop to ask for an apprenticeship. In 1973, he took over the shop and 54 years later he’s still in charge. Despite the changes and challenges that come with time, Paul’s dedication, craftsmanship, and devotion remain unwavering. This is the story of Brisbane’s Most Iconic Barber.

Best Short Non-Fiction Honourable Mention
Mandarin
Directed and produced by Ji Li, Wanshu Li and Mingyang Yao

When Jeff He went to a park to share mandarins with strangers, an awkward but lovely conversation started. Jeff He is from China and currently lives in Melbourne. After experiencing Covid lockdown, he felt more lonely, so he tried to use dating apps to connect with others. But the virtual world didn’t satisfy him, he eventually decided to be on the streets to connect with people by sharing mandarins. Mandarin is a 5-minute documentary that depicts a young man with diverse background, who lives alone in the modern society, wants to break out his little world to make connections with others.

Best Open Category Film Winner
Australian Mongrel
Directed by Rocco Fazzari and Belinda Lopez
Produced by Rocco Fazzari

Explores how people view their identities, personal histories and place in the world by asking random commuters on trains how they got there.

Emerging Filmmaker Winner
Kaede Miyamura – Kotoba
Written and Directed by Kaede Miyamura
Produced by Evangeline Parks

Hina, a 13 year-old Japanese immigrant in Australia, struggles to speak English and make friends at school. Her only friend is Holly, a sheep at a local petting farm who teaches her English and eventually encourages her to make friends.

Chairperson’s Choice Winner
Two Dollars
Directed and written by Natalia Cricri
Produced by Natalia Cricri and Luke Smith

Unable to speak English properly, Olivia, a young South American migrant in Australia, gets bullied at school. In an effort to adapt to the new country, she overcomes cultural and linguistic barriers while also finding a way to deal with her bully.

Image credit: film still from Mandarin