The Wilding is a 2012 Australian gay drama film written and directed by Grant Scicluna[1][2] and funded through Springboard, an initiative of Screen Australia.[3] The film stars Reef Ireland, Shannon Glowacki, Luke Mullins and Frank Sweet and had its world premiere in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival on 9 February 2012[4] and was nominated for the Teddy Award.[5]

The Wilding
Directed byGrant Scicluna
Written byGrant Scicluna
Produced byJannine Barnes
StarringReef Ireland
Shannon Glowacki
Luke Mullins
Frank Sweet
CinematographyFranc Biffone
Edited byAnthony Cox
Music byAlison Cole
Dave Smith
Production
company
Happening Films
Release dates
  • 9 February 2012 (2012-02-09) (Germany, Berlin International Film Festival)
  • 18 July 2012 (2012-07-18) (Australia, Sydney Film Festival)
Running time
16 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

The film competed at number of film festivals including Sydney Film Festival,[6] Show Me Shorts,[7] Melbourne Queer Film Festival,[8] Palm Springs International Film Festival[9] and St Kilda Film Festival[10] and earned good reviews before winning the prestigious Iris Prize in 2012.[11][12]

Premise

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Malcolm, a hardened borstal inmate, is in love with his cellmate Tye. As Malcolm faces an opportunity for parole, a feud with other inmates escalates, with Tye being targeted as Malcolm's weak spot. Malcolm is forced to choose between his own freedom and protecting the one he loves.

Cast

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  • Reef Ireland as Malcolm
  • Luke Mullins as Adam
  • Frank Sweet as Gavin
  • Shannon Glowacki as Tye
  • Richard Anastasios as Simmo
  • Lachlan Ward as Bosey

Reception

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Critical response

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The film received mainly positive reviews with Adrian Naik of big gay picture show praising Scicluna's direction and said "This is raw Australian filmmaking at its best. Combining the visceral brutality of Romper Stomper and the gritty terror of Chopper, The Wilding holds its own against films of this caliber, while still shocking those numb to their effects."[13]

Accolades

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Year Festival Award Recipient Result
2012 Iris Prize The Iris Prize for Best Short Film Grant Scicluna Won[14]
Madrid Lesbian, Gay and Transsexual Film Festival Best Short Film Grant Scicluna Won[15]
St Kilda Film Festival SBS Television Award Grant Scicluna Won[16]
Melbourne Queer Film Festival Winner City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Grant Scicluna Won[17]
Best Australian Short Film Grant Scicluna Won[18]
Australian Screen Editors Best Editing in a Short Film Anthony Cox Won[19]
Show Me Shorts Best International Short Film Grant Scicluna & Jannine Barnes Won
Australian Writers Guild[20] Best Short Film Grant Scicluna Nominated
Berlin International Film Festival[21][22] Teddy Award Grant Scicluna Nominated
Crystal Bear Grant Scicluna Nominated
Sydney Film Festival[23] Best Australian Short Film Grant Scicluna Nominated
2013 Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival Queer Perspective Award Grant Scicluna & Jannine Barnes Won[24]

Filming locations

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The film was shot in Sunbury in Australia and its surrounding suburbs.[25]

Feature film

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In 2014 Screen Australia and Film Victoria announced investment in a feature film based on the short film, titled Downriver[26][27] and will feature Ireland in the lead role.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Wilding (2012)". The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). 13 February 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Official Site". Happening Films. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Short films to springboard emerging careers of three filmmaking teams". Brisvanni Radio 1701AM. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Media Releases 2012 Four Australian short films selected for Berlinale 2012". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  5. ^ "The Wilding nominated for Teddy Award at Berlin Film Festival". IF Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Five Aussie films to get world premieres at Sydney Film Festival". Mumbrella. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Announcing The 2012 Nominees". Show Me Shorts. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Melbourne Queer Film Festival announces winners". Mumbrella. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  9. ^ "2012 Programme". Palm Springs Film Festival. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. ^ "St Kilda Film Festival announces Top 100 Competition". IF Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  11. ^ "AND THE WINNER IS". Iris Prize. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Gay Australian Film Claims World Prize". Star Observer. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  13. ^ "The Wilding – Iris Prize Best Short Film Winner Review". Big Gay Picture Show. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Winners". Iris Prize. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  15. ^ "IT GETS BETTER 'Transgender Movie' Tops Madrid Lesbian, Gay and Transsexual Film Festival". Alt Film Guide. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Past Winners". St Kilda Film Festival. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  17. ^ "Screening Details". St Kilda Film Festival. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  18. ^ "Screening Details". St Kilda Film Festival. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  19. ^ "2012 Winners". Australian Screen Editors. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  20. ^ "RMIT Graduates reap in the AWGIE nominations". RMIT. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Media Releases 2012 Four Australian short films selected for Berlinale 2012". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  22. ^ "The Wilding nominated for Teddy Award at Berlin Film Festival". IF Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Five Aussie films to get world premieres at Sydney Film Festival". Mumbrella. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  24. ^ "My Queer Career 2013 Short Film Competition Winners". MetroScreen. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  25. ^ "Warrandyte locations to feature heavily in new Australian film". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  26. ^ "MEDIA RELEASES 2014: SCREEN AUSTRALIA INVESTS IN 12 DIVERSE PROJECTS ACROSS FILM, TELEVISION AND MULTIPLATFORM". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  27. ^ "Three feature films including 'Downriver' to benefit from Film Victoria funding". Cinema Australia. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  28. ^ "Screen Australia backs Blue Dog, Downriver". Screen Daily. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
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