NARRATIVE WORK

FIRST DROP

Comedy-Drama | 15m | 2023

Written & Directed by Damon van der Schuit

Set in Alice Springs, this award-winning short follows Ted, a reclusive retiree, who is reluctantly tasked with caring for his Pakistani neighbour’s 8-year-old daughter, Saleha. What begins as an awkward favour blossoms into an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of cricket — until painful memories threaten to break it apart. A heartfelt story about connection, loss, and finding common ground.

Starring

Chris Haywood, Thamanna Shihab

Darwin International Film Festival

Best Short Film Award

2023

Flickerfest Official Selection

& Best of Australian Shorts National Tour

2023

New Delhi Film Festival

Silver Award Best Short

2024

Live from the Alice

Comedy-Drama | 16m | 2024

Written & Directed by Damon van der Schuit

A sensationalist news reporter is sent to the remote outback town of Alice Springs to cover the town's struggle with social disorder. She is reluctantly paired with an easy going local camera operator with deep ties to the community. What she hopes to be a quick and easy hit-piece on the town is promptly derailed.