Underdog Film Fest and VIP Afterparty

Calling all film-lovers! Assorted Grains presents the inaugural Underdog Film Fest red carpet screening event and awards ceremony.

Experience the powerful cinematic stories told by our official selection of film finalists. Be prepared for some radically authentic films from the fringes. Unique stories told by filmmakers from diverse perspectives and infused with our homegrown cultural spirit.

Grab your friends and stay for the day. Rub shoulders with filmmakers and cinephiles alike and support our award-winners. Stay for the VIP Afterparty, enjoy some delicious tucker and bevvies on the outdoor stage under the stars (weather permitting!), network with other industry professionals and help us congratulate all the award-winning entrants once again.

 All films screened at the event are eligible for the People’s Choice Award and voting takes place during the event.

Make your vote count, bring four friends and get a tidy discount on a 2-session pass! Pass outs are available so you can catch all the sessions you want to see. Just hold onto your ticket for re-entry.

We can’t wait to see you there!

SESSION TIMES:

Session 1: 12.30 pm arrival for 1 pm start (includes 2 x 20 min intermissions)

Immerse yourself in the finalists’ films from our official selection of the following award categories:

• Best Animated short film
• Best Multicultural short film
• Best Documentary short film
• The Underdog Award
• Presentations to above category Award Winners will be made at 4:20 pm

Ratings

• 1pm- Session 1: Screening 1 – Suitable for all audiences
• 2:20pm- Session 1: Screening 2 – Contains 2 films with intense scenes and mild violence, recommended 15+
• 3:30pm- Session 1: Screening 3 – Suitable for all audiences

Pass outs available for those wishing to avoid these films.

Session 2: 4:40 pm arrival for 5 pm start (includes 2 x 20 min intermissions)

Tuck in for the remaining finalists’ films from the following categories:

• Best Narrative short film
• Best ‘Made in Logan’ short film
• Best LGBTQIA+ short film
• Best First Nations short film
• Presentations to above category Award Winners, including People’s Choice will be made at 8:25 pm

Ratings

• 5:15pm- Session 2: Screening 1 – Suitable for all audiences
• 6:25pm- Session 2: Screening 2 – Contains films with adult themes, domestic violence, recommended 15+
• 7:35pm- Session 2: Screening 3 – Contains films with adult themes, violence, coarse language, recommended 15+

 Pass outs available for those wishing to avoid these films.

VIP Afterparty: 8.45 pm til late

Enjoy a few drinks and some tucker with the finalists and award winners at the VIP Afterparty. Rub shoulders with other silver screen professionals under the stars!

Full program with detailed screening times and award category announcements will be shared from Sep 1 via the Underdog Film Fest newsletter.  Avoid the FOMO and get the official selection delivered to you by signing up here: https://bit.ly/become-an-underdog

You will soon be able to download the full program from Underdog Film Fest.

Viewer discretion advised: Some films screened contain content of moderate impact that may include coarse language, sexual references, violence and mature themes. Please consider the viewing recommendations detailed above for each session.

MEET THE JUDGING PANEL

Lee Lark	Katrina Irawati-Graham	Douglas Watkin	Mandy Lake	Sally Terare

LARK LEE

Lark Lee, proudly residing in Logan City, is a Korean migrant mum, writer, director, producer and actress who also loves telling stories about other migrants and mothers.

Her projects were screened at multiple Academy Award-qualifying festivals and SBS on Demand. She is currently developing a Korean-Australian feature film, ‘Street No. 4’, and her new drama web series, ‘Little Korea’, which competes with Digital Original Initiative 2023 by SBS, NITV and Screen Australia.

Lark looks forward to telling inspiring and empowering human stories that would positively impact this world for global audiences.

KATRINA IRAWATI-GRAHAM

Katrina is an award-winning writer and director as well as a playwright. She co- directed for Bali 2002, a 4-part drama series for STAN produced by Endemol Shine and Screentime. She is La Boite Theatre’s Resident Emerging Dramaturg working across the company’s slate and development programs. She celebrates her Indonesian-Australian heritage and champions representations of diversity.  She works in many genres with a deep love for feminist horror.

DOUGLAS WATKIN

Douglas is an Erub/Mabuiag man who has been actively working in the film and television industry for over 25 years, including producing and directing multiple series for ABC, SBS and NITV. Douglas is passionate about bringing First Nation stories to the forefront and has worked tirelessly to connect and build the skills of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners to make this a reality. Douglas continues to strive to make our Mob’s stories and voices heard both nationally and on the world stage. He is a Director, Producer, Educator, Facilitator, Speaker, Promoter and Nurturer of Talent. He is also Deadly on the dance floor!

MANDY LAKE

Director/writer/EP/producer, Mandy Lake, is at the top of the pecking order of Flickchicks, the 20-year-old Brisbane-based production house that, to date, has largely specialised in hatching character-driven documentaries for TV, including: Bowled Over (SBS, 2021); 2 X 10 episode seasons of Snake Boss (Discovery Channel/Animal Planet 2015, 2016); The 100+ Club (ABC, 2012) and The 110+ Club (ABC 2021). Flickchicks is now also taking full flight into the world of scripted entertainment and is currently developing a TV series version of Bowled Over, which Mandy is all set to direct.

Mandy has had the distinct honour of acting as the Artistic Director for Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival and being on the judging panels for numerous initiatives and short film festivals including the Gold Coast Film Festival’s SIPFest, and the Brisbane Backyard Film Festival.

SALLY TARERE

Sally is a contemporary Indigenous artist, descendant from both Bundjalung and Butchulla Nations. She has an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts, Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts (ACPA) under the mentorship of Stephen Oliver, Deborah Mailman and Leah Purcell. Sally will guide the festival committee in matters of First Nations protocol during the planning, coordination and initial film shortlisting process.

Proudly supported by the Queensland Government via the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Screen Queensland and the Logan City Council.