JACKSON Mullane, 27, went to the Tropfest finals on Sunday not expecting to win — but just enjoy the atmosphere of being surrounded by fellow filmmakers.
The Cronulla man ended up going home with second prize for the film Red Nuts.
‘‘We originally called it Acid Man, and Red Nuts is not about red heads, although being red-headed is the last form of discrimination,’’ Mr Mullane said.
‘‘It’s the story about a man who hasn’t long to live and the choices he makes.
‘‘He lives and grows, not necessarily in the right places.’’
The hero of the film does have red hair.
Mr Mullane, who lectures at a film school, hopes to make more films. He directed the seven-minute film, which was produced by his brother Tyson Mullane, 26.
Their other brothers, Josh and Angus Mullane, also helped with the film.
Red Nuts poses the question "would you change your life if you found out you only had months to live?"
Jackson gave up his commercial directing career in order to pursue his dream to make feature films.
He hopes Tropfest may give him a boost into the industry and a filmmaking career.
A small but enthusiastic Tropfest audience were rewarded for enduring the inclement weather as dark comedy Granny Smith took out the country's largest small film festival's top gong on Sunday night.
Torrential rain, lightning strikes and pounding thunder put a dampener on a Tropfest that tried its best to weather one of the most dramatic evenings in its history.
At one stage, the site had to be evacuated "due to extreme weather conditions".
Hundreds piled into tents as lightning struck down around them.
Just after 6pm, the organisers announced the storm had passed and the festival was back on, but the damage had been done. Only a few hundred remained as the first film screened and sun poked its shy head through the clouds.
There were still plenty of bright spots in the night with hopeful filmmakers waiting to hear who were the prizewinners.
Twins David and Michael Karacic, 32, of South Hurstville worked collaboratively on their short film — Untitled — which was also a finalist, and is set up to look like a public service announcement.
See more in the Leader and at tropfest.com.au
Did you go to Tropfest? Tell us which film was your favourite?
