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.
When: July 16 – 19, 2024, 10 am to 2 pm (school holidays)
Cost: $385 (inc GST) per student (payment plans available)
Where: Studio 138, Unit 1 – 54 Mountbatten Drive, Dubbo
Discover the magic of screen acting with our intensive, hands-on workshop designed for aspiring young actors! Over four exciting days, you’ll immerse yourself in the world of film and learn from an experienced actor and director. This is your chance to shine on camera, develop your skills, and star in a short film project that will be shared online and submitted to film festivals.
What You’ll Experience:
Master Vocal Performance: Learn essential vocal techniques to bring your characters to life.
Act for the Camera: Perfect your acting, voice, and movement skills tailored specifically for screen performance.
Engaging Exercises: Participate in fun and interactive acting exercises that will enhance your abilities.
Improvisation Skills: Build confidence and spontaneity through improvisation, a crucial skill for any actor.
Character Development: Dive deep into script work to create compelling and believable characters.
Film Set Insights: Gain valuable knowledge about the inner workings of a film set and what to expect.
Collaboration: Work closely with fellow participants to complete a professional short film project.
Overcome Nerves: Learn practical techniques to manage performance anxiety and deliver your best.
Special Highlights:
Short Film Screening: Family and friends will be invited to a special screening of your completed short film approximately two weeks after the workshop.
Expert Guidance: The workshop is led by a qualified and experienced educator with a current Working With Children Check, ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment.
Join us for this transformative experience and take the first step towards your acting dreams. Spaces are limited, so enrol now and let your talent shine!
Students will need to bring their own lunch, snacks and drinks (no energy drinks).
About the facilitator
Erifili Davis is an experienced actor, writer and director and 2024 Dubbo Cultural Person of the Year. Her short films have been screened at film festivals around the world. She is also an experienced educator and has a current Working With Children approval.
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.
“Nobody’s Business” is a short film written and directed by Erifili Davis.
Set in the 1920s, “Nobody’s Business” is about underworld queen Evelyn who must choose between her love and her reputation. The film It will be shot in Dubbo on May 26, 2024.
Everyone involved will get an IMDB credit and catering will be provided on the set.
We are auditioning for the following characters:
VINCENT (major role) – male, 25 – 55 years old, charming, charismatic, the life of the party. He loves Evelyn but has an underlying resentment about being a ‘kept man’ (small payment to selected actor)
BODYGUARD 1 (small speaking role) – male or male presenting, any age, tough and loyal to Evelyn (small payment to selected actor)
NON-SPEAKING BODYGUARDS (unpaid)
CLUB PATRON EXTRAS (non-speaking) – 18+, all genders, (unpaid) – let us know if you have a special talent!! (unpaid)
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY – come along and have some fun!
We are also looking for musicians who may be interested in playing the jazz songs to be recorded as part of the film.
Auditions will be held this Sunday, March 24, 1 pm to 3 pm. If this time doesn’t suit, let us know and we’ll make other arrangements.
Auditions will be held at Studio 138’s new premises – Unit 1 / 54 Mountbatten Dr.
If you’d like to audition and find out more, click the link to fill out the form:
We have changed the shape of this event in response to the community.
Studio 138 is thrilled to once again partner with Voices of Women to bring story telling workshops and a live event to Dubbo.
The storymaking workshops
Come and have a yarn, share or create a new story.
If you can speak you can write. If you have a story to tell, you are welcome to these storytelling sessions (of course, writers are also welcome!) During the workshops, we will work together to share ideas and stories, with the aim of developing them into monologues that may be performed by actors and musicians at a live reading event on Sunday in Dubbo.
Maybe the stories are inspired by your real-life experiences – with relationships, climate change, drought or other issues that you are facing. Maybe the stories come completely from your imagination! Our workshops bring women together in a safe, friendly space to collaborate and create magic from ideas and words.
You’ll be surprised what happens when we get together and get creative. There’s a lot of laughter, but also stories that inspire us about how we live our lives, about how we navigate the people and the place around us, and how sharing can make all the difference as we face the future.
The workshops are in small groups (maximum of 15). They begin with a focus on the place where we live, collecting sounds and colours, conversations and experiences from our area. Then we turn to storymaking and shaping a short piece. In the middle of it all we share refreshments, jokes, and connections.
We will work together to share ideas and stories, with the aim of developing or recording them into monologues that may be performed by actors and musicians at a live event on Saturday.
The workshops are fun and inclusive, facilitated by Voices of Women Artistic Director Lliane Clarke and Dubbo writer and performer Kalina Davis, supported by Studio 138 Dubbo producer and director Erifili Davis. We walk alongside First Nations women and welcome women from diverse communities, including women from LGBTQI+ communities.
Choose your session or come to both! The most important thing is to register.
There will be 2 workshops to be held:
Fri 15th Mar 2024, 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm
Sat 16th Mar 2024, 10.00 am to 12.00 pm
The workshops are facilitated but because of their flexible nature, each workshop will be completely different!
Single workshop including refreshments – $15 +bf
Two workshops including refreshments – $25 + bf
Location:
Art Club Dubbo Studio, 13b Bultje Street, Dubbo (next to FastLane drive through coffee)
Hear the stories read live by trained performers, wrapped in live music by award-winning composer in residence Elizabeth Jigalin. Watch short films made by local women, hear from local creative Shannon Barnes, a proud Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan woman and Managing Director of Boomalli Consulting, and watch the award-winning Entanglement film, screened around the world including at the United Nations Women’s Conference in Rwanda 2023.
Includes refreshments.
Sat 16th Mar 2024, 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm
Tickets – $25 + bf
Art Club Dubbo Studio, 13b Bultje Street, Dubbo (next to FastLane drive through coffee)
