Finalists announced for AACTA Pitch: Forever Unexpected presented by MINI

AACTA are thrilled to announce the five finalists for our national short film pitching competition, AACTA Pitch: Forever Unexpected presented by MINI: LACHIE AND JOHN, OUR GREATEST ESCAPE, SPECIAL DELIVERY, THE ROCKSTAR and TO THE RESCUE.

Launched earlier this year, AACTA Pitch is a national pitching competition that aims to discover Australia’s next world-class scripted series for web and television.

Each finalist will pitch their ideas live to a panel of esteemed judges in Sydney on Monday 3 June, competing for the grand prize which includes:

• $5,000 cash
• Up to $15,000 towards the production of their short film
• A complimentary MINI vehicle for the duration of the shoot
• Invaluable feedback and mentorship opportunities with the judging panel
• Post-production support from Spectrum Films to the value of $2,500
• Tickets to the 2019 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel

THE FINALISTS

LACHIE AND JOHN | Dan Haberfield
When John’s wife leaves unexpectedly, his young son Lachie helps him see how he can become a better man. LACHIE AND JOHN is a light-hearted comedy exploring the expectations put upon family members and the importance of stepping up to share responsibilities.

OUR GREATEST ESCAPE | Loani Arman, Kelly Hucker
A young advertising executive gets back to her creative roots when she takes her mum on ‘one last ride’. Drawing from her personal experience in caring for a loved one with dementia, Loani Arman, together with her creative partner and Hot Docs Best Short Documentary award winner Kelly Hucker, remind us all that even though life moves on, there's still magic and fun to be had.

SPECIAL DELIVERY | Gemma Knight, Millicent Malcolm, Jasper Garner Gore, Liam French
From the producer of SKIT BOX and the Canneseries Award-winning comedy OVER AND OUT, comes the story of an Australian postman who faces a difficult choice when forced to deliver an increasingly bizarre and dangerous set of objects to a quiet suburban home.

THE ROCKSTAR | Jacqueline Lim, Daniel Stevenson
On her 60th birthday, Elsbeth receives and old guitar pick in the mail. The surprise reminder of her ambitious past encourages her to relive her dreams, breaking down stereotypes as she celebrates her birthday, her way.

TO THE RESCUE | Jamieson Pearce, Cyna Strachan, Liam Heyen, Alex Serafini
Can’t it still be magic? Can’t it still be fun? Following a couple going to extreme lengths to revive their romance, TO THE RESCUE is a comedy that plays with audience expectations, questioning the status quo while revealing the spirit that lurks beneath.