By PETER DOUGLAS
BUDDING Upwey film-maker Tadji Ulrich, 14, has proven himself as a creative talent to watch in years to come.
The student has raised eyebrows after entering his short film, ‘I believe’, into a junior film event, Little Big Shots.
Although he didn’t finish in the final short-list of 12, he was included in the top 50 and subsequently named a ‘Little Big Shot’.
Tadji’s film, as the title suggests, focuses on the themes of reality, imagination and self-belief, and concepts such as ‘man fears what he doesn’t understand’.
Tadji said the finished product didn’t come together quickly.
“It took months to film, six weeks to edit, and runs for six minutes and 40 seconds,” he said.
“But I’m very pleased with the end result; it was satisfying to see it come together.”
In the film, the narrator travels from a heaving city to a mysterious forest, all in search for what he believes as the truth.
As a recipient of the Little Big Shot title, ‘I believe’ will feature at the ACMI festival, Little Big Shots, which runs from Sunday 3 to Sunday 10 July.
The festival is noted as one of Australia’s top film festival for kids.
The films entered must be shot by kids, for kids and about kids.
For more details on the festival and screening times, visit www.acmi.net.au
