Rhian Sheehan

For more than four decades, Wellington-based photographer Grant Sheehan has made his way in the world through images. Where many photographers find longevity in laser-focused speciality, he is one of the few that has managed to thrive by expanding his style ever wider. Spinning yarns as though to an acquaintance on the neighbouring barstool, Sheehan recounts his own exceptional career in this charming documentary.

In a cold and remote landscape, two strangers struggle to repair their broken pasts. A young man is on parole after serving time for attempting to murder the man who killed his girlfriend in a hit and run. A woman is released from a psychiatric facility far from her homeland. These two damaged strangers cross paths in the mountains in winter and fall into a complex intimate relationship, putting to the test their capacity to trust and heal.

Van Ngoc Dang reflects on the end of her most formative long term relationship while wandering through Da Lat, a hauntingly beautiful town located in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and the last place that Van (who is Vietnamese - Canadian) and her ex visited together as a couple. Her memories are framed through the lyrics of 5 songs that were especially meaningful to her during the breakup.

Eight-year-old Jesse lives in a twilight world of sadness and silence, squeezed into a tiny caravan with his grief stricken father. They're in limbo, existing more than living. The child intuitively understands that looking forward is harder than looking back, and that's where life happens. But they are stuck, until an accidental friendship with a V8 driving transsexual unlocks the means for Jesse to liberate his father and himself.

The streets have become a hotbed of racial tension and hate about to burst.

This film follows several independent game developers (Jason Rohrer, thatgamecompany, Douglas Wilson, Zach Gage, Aledander Bruce) examining why they make digital games. The film delves into their creativity and explores some of their thinking and design strategies. Game developers operate in terrain that demands both programming logic and aesthetic quality. The work is hard, however that's what they want to do. The film explores how the developers go deeper into the notion of entertainment and discovery.

A young girl goes missing in the wild surf of a small coastal town. The effects of this are far-reaching for her family & community. Set in an unforgiving landscape, this story explores feelings of loss & it's consequences. This short film is entirely composed of still photographs, animated together to create movement & to portray the mind's recollection of memories, creating a surreal experience.

Holding The Sun is the story of businessman Matthew Archview who is lost in an ocean of amnesia after a devastating car crash took the life of his son and erased all memories of his sons existence. The only clue he has to unravel his past and any hidden memories is a drawing that his son did of their last day together at the beach. Unable to find the spiritual tools in contemporary society to heal he decides to journey deep into Self to discover key clues that unlock the suppressed memories of his son that are buried deep within his subconscious. Coupled with chance meetings with old and new friends, guides, omens, and visions, Matthew must enter the cave he fears most in order to find the treasure he so dearly seeks.

In this breathtaking science fiction spectacle, a strange mechanical device lands on a desolate world and uses the planet to undergo a startling transformation, that has profound implications for an entire galaxy.

The Sunshine Man... If only we can see what he sees! For just one easy payment, you too can escape the disappointment and heartache of your meaningless existence. For a limited time only, the Sunshine Man offers you the golden opportunity to see the life as he does! But just remember 'sometimes things aren't what they seem', and after watching this curious dark comedy, you may think twice before hanging up on a salesperson. From emerging director Peter Tonks, this film is a visual treat with performances to match, and beautifully accompanied by Rhian Sheehan's haunting score.