Romance Rules Film Festival 2025 – A Fantastic Night of Film
The Romance Rules Film Festival at Studio 138 was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a night of short films exploring romance in all its forms. There were plenty of laughs, moments of reflection, and a great sense of community as we enjoyed films from around the world.
The audience favourite ended in a three-way tie:
• Little Issues – Directed by Jerah Milligan (USA)
• The Meaning Of No – Directed by Reid McGowan, Mik Gojic (Australia)
• 26 eXes – Directed by Tess Lafia (USA)
Congratulations to these filmmakers for their outstanding work.
Thank you for being part of this celebration of storytelling. We look forward to welcoming you to our next event.
Join us for the 2025 screening of the Romance Rules Film Festival. We have a great line-up of short films from around the world all about romance – the good, the bad and the ugly!
When: February 21, 2025 @ 7.30 pm
Venue: Studio 138, 54 Mountbatten Drive, Dubbo, 2830
BYO: Drinks & snacks
Some films include adult themes, sexual references and occasional coarse language
Tickets: $15 (inc GST) at the door and online (see secure ticket link below)
Little Issues, dir – Jerah Milligan, United States FOTOAUTOMAT, dir – Rémy Mégard, Australia Reflexion, dir – Alan Bidard, France My Darling Helen, dir – Joy Mc Keon, Ireland The Meaning Of No, dir – Reid McGowan, Mik Gojic, Australia 26 eXes, dir – Tess Lafia, United States TALK, dir – Dario Nadile, Australia VILLETTA CON PISCINA (Villa with pool), dir – Karma Gava, Italy Sidewalk Serendipity, dir – Elvia Hill, Blake Cortes, United States INDOOR, dir – DHAWAL POKLE, India Sticky Buns, Ravioli, and White Cake, dir – Nicole Pouchet, United States
Finalist
These films will not be screened and were finalists in the selection process.
Last Night, dir – Patrick Nevian, Alice Schmidt, Germany Yohiro, dir – Luigi Di Domenico, Italy People Come and People Go, dir – Jess Milne, Australia Dinner Parties, dir – Jess Milne, Australia Bacon Sundae, dir – Leon Braun, Australia A Night’s Chemistry, dir – Jamal Thomas, United States The Perfect Stranger , dir – Jack Davies, United Kingdom CAKE, dir – Isaiah Sturge, Not Specified Someday Soon, dir – Amanda Romero, United States I am not alone, dir – Michael Parks, Singapore Al Revés, dir – Luis Figeuredo, Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of The Patricia Party, dir – Jonathan Frey, United States Julienne of Light Bulbs, dir – Dave Lojek, Germany La Conquista, dir – Julen Laburu, Argentina You’re My Kind, dir – Joseph Gerges, Australia The Cut After The First, dir – Matthew Shadbolt, Australia Trip Down Memory Lake, dir – Nick Bolton, Australia
We had a terrific night at the screening for the 2024 Thrills and Chills Fantasy, Sci Fi and Horror Fest screening. The audience loved the incredibly diverse genre short films from around the world.
Congratulations to the category winners (see below). As per the rules, we have reserved the right not to award winners in a small number of categories.
A big thank you to filmmakers Kalina Davis (“Hidden Prey”) and Julianna Purnell who attended the screening in person.
We’ll be opening entries soon for the 2025 season.
Official selections screened at the event
‘They’re Coming’ Country of origin: United States Director(s): Camy “Cameron” Arnett
‘Unit 17: Week 3’ Country of origin: United States Director(s): David Kaye, Theresa Stefaniak
‘Reboot’ Country of origin: China Director: CHRIS QI YAO
‘Hidden Prey’ Country of origin: Australia Director: Kalina Davis
‘Lab Rat’ Country of origin: Australia Director: Ben Hargreaves
‘La Soglia’ Country of origin: Italy Director(s): Nicolò Tonani, Sofia Gasparetti, Simone Colombo
‘I Was’ Country of origin: Italy Director(s): Matteo Capatti, Lorenzo Mazzucchi
‘Demon Dog’ Country of origin: Australia Director: Juliana Purnell
‘Ruined Date’ Country of origin: Mexico Director: Antonio Rotunno
‘Doom Scroll’ Country of origin: Australia Director: Roy Weiland
‘Moonbeans: A Tale of Two Astronauts’ Country of origin: United States Director: James G. Maynard
‘The Missing’ Country of origin: Australia Director: Lovejeet Singh
‘The Man in the Red Pants’ Country of origin: Australia Director(s): Liam Govan, Hassibullah Kushkaki
‘Delivery’ Country of origin: United States Director: Braydon Leadbetter
Category award winners
Poster for “The Missing”
Audience favourite – “The Missing”
Short film – Horror / Thriller – “The Missing”
Short film – Sci Fi – “Lab Rat”
Director – Lovejeet Singh “The Missing”
Actor – Alex Botto – “The Missing”
Song / score – Paul Shrofel (score) “Hinter-Land”
Production design – “The Man in the Red Pants”
Sound design – “I Was”
Mobile phone / tablet film – “Demon Dog” & “Hidden Prey”
Trailer – “I Was”
Poster – “They’re Coming”
Screenplay – horror / thriller – “Chrysalis” by Lachlan Anderson-Schmidt
We’re excited to announce our September 2024 monthly semi-finalists of our Thrills and Chills Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror Fest. Our semi-finalist films will be in consideration to be selected for our live screening in October 2024, where the annual winners for each category will be announced.
We’re excited to announce our June 2024 monthly semi-finalists of our Thrills and Chills Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror Fest. Our semi-finalist films will be in consideration to be selected for our live screening in October 2024, where the annual winners for each category will be announced.
We’re excited to announce our February 2024 monthly semi-finalists of our Thrills and Chills Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror Fest. Our semi-finalist films will be in consideration to be selected for our live screening in October 2024, where the annual winners for each category will be announced.
The official selections of the 2024 Romance Rules Film Festival were screened at the Black Box Theatre Theatre at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, on February 16, 2024.
What a fantastic night of diverse films!
Film screeningFilm screeningFilm screeningFilm screening2024 Screening of the Romance Rules Film Festival
Program
Official selections
Slow Dating, dir Adam Szudrich (Australia)
For a Moment, dir Coco Tolentino (United States)
A Rose in the Mud, dir Kailey McComas (United States)
Dear Heartbreak, dir Ffion Pritchard (United Kingdom)
TutuTango, dir Dorothee Elfring, Michael Finbar Sheehan (United States)
Bud, dir Jamie Martinez (United States)
Beta Days, dir Dan Walls (Australia)
The Holidaze of Noelle Snow, dir Courtney Anne McLaren (United States)
Featured film (non-competition)
Greek Philosophia And Chickens, dir Aimiende Negbenebor Sela (United States)
Nominees and award winners
Audience Favourite Award Winner
Winner:
TutuTango, dir Dorothee Elfring, Michael Finbar Sheehan (United States)
Equal second:
The Holidaze of Noelle Snow, dir Courtney Anne McLaren (United States)
Join us for the 2024 screening of the Romance Rules Film Festival. We have a great line-up of short films from around the world all about romance – the good, the bad and the ugly!
When: February 16, 2024 @ 7.30 pm Venue: Black Box Theatre, Western Plains Cultural Centre, 76 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo, New South Wales, 2830 BYO: Drinks & snacks Some films include adult themes, sexual references and occasional coarse language
Tickets: $12 each (including GST) online and at the door
Featured film (non-competition) “Greek Philosophia And Chickens”
We are so excited to present the award winning short Greek Philosophia And Chickens, written by Despina Moraitu Politzi, directed by Aimiende Negbenebor Sela and starring Germaine Gaudet (How to Successfully Fail in Hollywood, River of Ghosts), Brian D Cohen (Nash Bridges, The Rookie), Lukas Hassel (Blacklist, Slapface, Limitless) and Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Gigli, Tango Shalom).
Part drama, part comedy with a hint of romance, Greek Philosophia and Chickens follows a sixty-something best-selling romance author who, feeling invisible as woman, hires an assassin to take her out. An encounter with chef/restaurant owner, Niko, and his vivacious waitress mother, Katina, from whom she learns a Greek philosophy/saying that really gets her thinking maybe…?
Official Selections
Beta Days, dir Dan Walls (Australia)
A Rose in the Mud, dir Kailey McComas (United States)
Bud, dir Jamie Martinez (United States)
For a Moment, dir Coco Tolentino (United States)
Dear Heartbreak, dir Ffion Pritchard (United Kingdom)
The Holidaze of Noelle Snow, dir Courtney Anne McLaren (United States)
Slow Dating, dir Adam Szudrich (Australia)
TutuTango, dir Dorothee Elfring, Michael Finbar Sheehan (United States)
All official selections will be eligible to be voted as “Audience Favourite”.
Finalists
Category winners will be announced at the end of the screening.
We’re excited to be announcing our December 2023 monthly semi-finalists of our Thrills and Chills Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror Fest. Our semi-finalist films will be in consideration to be selected for our live screening in October 2024, where the annual winners for each category will be announced.
Poster for the film They’re ComingPoster for the film HalcyonPoster for the film Hinter-LandPoster for the film DefianceChrysalis writer Lachlan Anderson-SchmidtPoster for the film Oblivious
We’re excited to be announcing our very first monthly semi-finalists of our Thrills and Chills Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror Fest. Our semi-finalist films will be in consideration to be selected for our live screening in October 2024, where the annual winners for each category will be announced.
