A young Sunbury actor played a lead role in a short film that won an award for ‘Best Australian Short Film’ at the Melbourne International Film Festival this month.
Killara Primary School and DARE Drama Sunbury student Frankie Gillespie-McKay played the role of Augie in 2024 Australian short film ‘The Meaningless Daydreams of Augie & Celeste,’ directed by Pernell Marsden.
The film won the VicScreen Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short Film at the Melbourne International Film Festival earlier this month.
In June, director Pernell Marsden won Sydney Film Festival’s Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Australian Director in the short film competition.
Frankie said that she enjoyed playing the role of Augie and working with the director.
“It was the best experience to make the movie and I feel very lucky it won two awards … I’m so happy for Pernell Marsden who won best director as she is amazing and made it so fun for me,” Frankie said.
“The movie is about two girls and their friendship and how it changes when something big happens. It’s also about kissing a scarecrow. I enjoyed playing Augie because she is a lot like me – it was also funny to kiss a scarecrow,” she said.
The first project for Frankie, she said she began acting last year and has “fallen in love” with the craft.
“I love acting because you get to be different people and experiment with their feelings. I also like all the people I get to meet and the new friends I get to make,” she said.
“I’m currently in stage school and want to perform on stage. I also want to be in a Wonder Bread ad as I dreamt about it.”
Details: miff.com.au/program/film/the-meaningless-daydreams-of-augie-celeste
Oscar Parry
