VCA graduates showcase short films in partnership with Melbourne International Film Festival
The next generation of Australian filmmakers will showcase their graduating works from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) from 2-22 December.
34 films by VCA graduates will be featured in the 2025 Film and Television Graduate Season showcase, streamed for free on ACMI Cinema 3 in partnership with the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). This will be the sixth annual partnered showcase.
Head of VCA Film and Television David Balfour said this year’s season of graduate films showcases a rich variety of voice, style and creativity.
“These films offer a glimpse of where cinema is moving—towards braver ideas, richer cultural perspectives, and makers who aren’t afraid to challenge the familiar—in what they make and how they make it,” he said. “Through our partnership with MIFF and ACMI, these emerging voices have the platform they deserve to reach a wide audience.”
The showcase will feature a diverse selection of screen stories, ranging from thrillers to queer coming of age tales, experimental dramas, absurdist comedies, documentaries, fantasy and animation.
MIFF Artistic Director Al Cossar said: “Every year the Victorian College of the Art's Graduate Showcase announces essential new voices in Australian filmmaking—a first chance to discover so many incredible talents who will be working to shape Australian cinema for years to come.
“MIFF is thrilled to again partner with the VCA to support this dynamic and essential lineup of emerging filmmakers, as they play at your place via MIFF Online, on ACMI Cinema 3.
“Don’t miss your chance to witness the next generation of Australian cinema unfold across a whole program of unmissable Melbourne filmmaking, coming to you (and all for free) this December!”
Graduating filmmaker Ravi Chand said: “I left no stone unturned for our short film Coconut. I ran a crowdfunding campaign in collaboration with the Fijian-Indian Community that had read our script, raising $16,000 in four weeks.
“I'm excited for what the future holds. After the Coconut feature pitch (as part of the Master of Film and Television), I received an email the same day from a notable distribution company to help move the project forward.”
Filmmaker Chloe Jia Ying Lau said: “My graduating film The Wau Factor is a Southeast Asian animation about a kite (Wau) maker and a dragon, told in the form of a children’s folktale. Taking inspiration from traditional Malaysian crafts, this film gave me the opportunity to explore my identity and culture through play, something I found immensely refreshing.
“From the diverse range of artforms that sparked my creativity, to the oral stories that shaped me, I wish to inspire children and adults alike with the same things that inspire me.”
The showcase of films will be available to stream at MIFF Online via ACMI Cinema 3 from 2-22 December 2025. Create an account now to be ready to select and view the films of your choice.