A short film starring two Dandenong girls took home five awards at the Tropfest film festival – the most of any entrant this year.
The Last Time I Saw You premiered at Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival, in Sydney on Saturday 17 February.
It received the third place trophy in the main prize category and four of the seven craft awards – Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Sound Design and Best Production Design.
The film follows 16-year-old Hazara Afghan refugee Aaseya, haunted by the trauma of her past.
She has difficulty assimilating into her new life in Australia but uses her inner strength to challenge a trio of mean girls at school.
Dandenong 17-year-old Mahdia Bakhtiari, a non-actress, plays the lead role.
The Hazara refugee fled to Australia with her family from Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2013.
Hazaras are one of the most persecuted ethnic minorities in the world.
Producers flew in girls from across the country to authentically cast from Australia’s small Hazara community.
“After months of searching we were about to give up when a final effort unearthed a remarkable non-actress right under our noses in Victoria,” director Damien McLindon said.
She read the script and said identified with the story, which was inspired by true events.
Mahdia’s cousin Sema Mirzae portrays the younger Aaseya in the film.
She was born in Australia in 2007 after her family arrived from Kabul in the early 2000s, and also lives in Dandenong.
“I was incredibly moved by the trauma, sadness and ultimately the joy of a girl finding her place in a new and contrasting society,” Mr McLindon said.
“This is a small slice-of-life story of a larger refugee crisis, and the plight of so many – leaving behind their home, friends and family – in the hope of a better future.
“It’s our hope that audiences will be both moved and entertained by our lead character Aaseya’s story, and her ultimate triumph over schoolyard bullies.
“Her small victory speaks to her resilience and determination that she will carry forward in her life.”
This year’s Tropfest judges were Hollywood heavyweight Susan Sarandon, Australian actors Rob Collins and Rachel Griffiths, Australian documentary filmmaker Jennifer Peedom, and Australian television, film and commercial director Garth Davis.
Visit the Tropfest YouTube channel to watch The Last Time I Saw You and the other finalists.
