US Premiere

About the Director

Hayden is an award winning Australian Writer, Director and Editor. He attended the prestigious Victorian College of the Arts. Hayden is currently working on his first feature film and is collaboratively developing the script for two others. Hayden is a recipient of an Atom Award in 2011, Best Film of 2009 Raw Nerve along with Best Film at the Diegesis Student Film Festival. He is also known for his Corporate film productions which has taken him across the globe.The Severing is a character study about the influence of living in a voyeuristic society. An exploration of crippling external pressures and what it means to take a stand and fight for what is yours.

In The Severing, Jacinta finds herself at the threshold of adulthood; confronted by the dilemma of how to be alone in today’s world of chaos. The emptiness of her new apartment filled with unfamiliar sounds and walls waiting to be called home evoke a deep sense of fear. Through a guided audio meditation she is forced to confront these fears and battle for her very existence.

From an early age I have experienced out of body episodes and long wanted to communicate the sense of awe and terror they bring. As Writer, Director, Editor and Sound Designer, I’ve been afforded the luxury of an uncompromising audiovisual approach to The Severing, an approach that encapsulates my love of cinema as a bold sensory medium. Tackling multiple roles has also helped working without a budget and tight schedule.

The Severing offers a space where we travel between the blurred lines of what is real and what is not. Jacinta’s struggle is every young woman’s struggle with darkness and a meditation on being alone, if we ever really are?

About the Director

Neil Triffett is an Australian-based film and theatre practitioner. Neil received a Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2014, Screen Australia Completion funds in 2013, was awarded the Most Outstanding Undergraduate student at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2010, and has written and directed many short films that have gone on to be played both nationally and internationally.
In 2013 he completed an AD attachment on Ariel Klieman’s ‘Partisan’, gained valuable industry experience in the production office of the ABC’s telemovie ‘Cliffy’, and was employed by Platform Youth Theatre as a Digital Storyteller in Residence. He is experienced in writing, directing, acting, and editing and has a constant engagement with many forms of story telling, from web, to stage to screen and is in development for several features, stage and cabaret works.

Neil has also been recognised and awarded via: VCA Professional Pathways Scholarship 2013; Finalist: Qantas Spirit of Youth Finalist 2013; Nominated: Best Young Australian Filmmaker, Byron Bay Film Festival, 2012 & 2011; Awarded: Audience Choice Award; Made in Melbourne Closing Night, December 2011; Awarded: Jump Cut Tertiary Award; Bayside Film Festival, August 2011; Awarded: Most Outstanding Undergraduate Student, VCA, 2010; Nominated: Best Achievement in Directing, VCA, 2010. Upstart Award for Best 2nd Year Production, VCA, 2009; and awarded Best Tropfest entry, Wide Angle Tasmania, 2008.

Ivan Bradara is an upcoming producer for both Film and Television. Having already been an actor since an early age and boasting a successful career in Australia to date, Ivan has acted in a countless number of award-winning short films which have been officially selected in major film festivals in both Australia and overseas. Some of these films include ‘Shoplifting’ (Directed by Neil Triffett), ‘Look My Way’ (Directed by Richard Vette) and ‘Shiny Thing’ (Directed by Lisa Gloufchis). Ivan has also acted in some of Australia’s finest award-winning television shows including ‘The Slap’ (ABC) and Neighbours (Fremantle Media) to name a few. His resume as an actor continues to grow which has given him a passion for the arts and dedication to finding compelling stories for both Film and Television. His dedication in front and behind the camera has allowed Ivan to alternate between his acting commitments and step into producing.

About the Director

Edgar Nito was born in Irapuato Mexico on December 18th 1986. He is a graduate student from Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica where he has directed, written and produced several short films since 2007. Massacre in San Jose is his thesis project. In November 2010 his short film “Y volveré…” was released in Sitges International Film Festival in Spain. He achieved an honorary mention in Lebu Film Festival in Chile, won the best short film award at Guanajuato International Film Festival, Best Soundtrack Award at Cinefantasy in Brasil and the Best Short Narrative Award at Garden State Film Festival in USA as well as many official selection participations at international film festivals. Edgar directed the segment “Jarral de Berrios” in a feature film about Mexican legends and traditions “México Bárbaro”. He is developing his first feature film “Tatewarí”. This project won the Bronze Award at the Fantastic Market of Fantastic Film Fest 2013 in Austin Texas with Elijah Wood and Robert Rodríguez as members of the jury. Massacre in San Jose is a tribute for the heroic acts of Don Alejo Garza Taméz, the first known civilian in Mexico that defended from the organized crime by himself and lost his life fighting for his ideals in 2010.

About the Director

I grew up with a Christian family in a small town, Nørre Åby, on the Danish island, Funen. We were a part of the alternative church movement, Apostolic Church. Until I was thirteen years old, I attended church every week, but never really felt Jesus’ presence. When I was fifteen, I told my mother, that I did not believe in God. She was sad that I would not join her in heaven. When I finished high school, I traveled a lot in the States for two years and spent half a year in London. Then I moved to Copenhagen to pursue a career within film, and I have been working with film production ever since. The inspiration for my films has always come from my own experiences. My last film, Reception, was about handling confrontation and finding the guts to take a stand for yourself. The inspiration for “Welcome to Paradise” came from my own reality. I have seen people being forced by group mentality of religion to suppress their own ideas and thoughts. I wanted to work with this subject and problem in the film as I believe it is not right.

About the Director

Iain Softley has made a wide range of International films as director, writer and producer. His first film, which he which he wrote and directed, BACKBEAT opened the Sundance Film Festival and went on to receive a BAFTA Award nomination for Best British Film. Iain received Best Newcomer Awards from The London Film Critics Circle and Empire Magazine.

Iain went on to make HACKERS starring Jonny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie in her feature film debut. THE WINGS OF THE DOVE starred Helena Bonham Carter and Linus Roache. The film earned 4 Academy Award nominations, and won a number of awards including two BAFTAs and multiple acting honors for Bonham Carter. Iain's next two films (for Universal Studios) topped the US box office, K-PAX, starring Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges and THE SKELETON KEY with Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands and John Hurt. Other film credits include INKHEART, from Cornelia Funke's best selling book, with Helen Mirren, Paul Bettany and Jim Broadbent.

In 2010 Iain directed a stage production of his debut film BACKBEAT for The Glasgow Citizens Theatre which subsequently transferred to the West End, Toronto and Los Angeles.

Following this came the film TRAP FOR CINDERELLA - Tuppence Middleton and Alexandra Roach, which Iain adapted and directed from Sebastien Japrisot's French crime thriller.

Iain’s latest completed project is THE OUTCAST, two 90 minute films for BBC 1, which was recently transmitted to a large primetime audience receiving highly positive reviews.

Iain's current projects include One Foot In Eden with Jeff Bridges and Ben Whishaw and Icarus, the dramatic true story of British American astronaut Mike Foale.

Following THE OUTCAST Iain is currently working with Sadie Jones on a film version of her latest book FALLOUT.

This summer has seen full a series of anniversary screenings of HACKERS across the US and the UK and CURVE has played to packed houses at London’s Frightfest.