Amelie named AACTA finalist for short film Sacrilege

For Amelie, a graduate of the Diploma of Screen and Media (Directing) (CUA51020- DIRECT), the moment she learned about the nomination felt almost unreal.

“I felt completely surreal. For a few weeks, the news was under embargo, so I had to keep the initial excitement to myself, but I couldn’t wait to share it,” said Amelie.

“Being recognised by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) was something I hoped might happen someday, if I were lucky enough. To receive a nomination just a few months after graduating was really a dream come true.”

Her short film Sacrilege is a 14th-century period drama that follows a young pregnant woman who seeks refuge in a church to escape the harsh realities of medieval society.

With few options for survival, she devises a risky plan to convince the congregation she has performed a miracle, securing their protection and support.

Beyond its historical setting, the film explores complex moral questions.

“The story is really an exploration of morality. The word sacrilege means the violation of something sacred, but in the film, what exactly is sacred and what constitutes the act of violation is left open to interpretation,” Amelie explained.

While the church represents a literal sacred space, the story also invites audiences to reflect on deeper themes - the sanctity of human life, compassion, and the difficult moral choices people make when pushed to the edge.

“The film explores how empathy and humanity can blur our understanding of what is morally ‘good’ or ‘bad’,” she said.

As a student production, Amelie took on multiple roles behind the camera, from writing, directing, producing and designing the film herself, an experience that challenged her creatively and personally.

“I felt that I had endless creative freedom to make whatever I felt compelled to. What the experience taught me was that confidence in what you are making comes secondary to taking a risk on yourself and seeing what you are capable of.”

Through the process, she discovered new skills and strengths she didn’t realise she had.

“There were so many skills that I gained just by choosing to give it a go. I’m grateful that we were allowed to push ourselves and create something ambitious.”

Like many student films, Sacrilege was created with limited resources and a small team - something Amelie says taught her valuable lessons about filmmaking and leadership.

“Collaboration is everything in filmmaking. You’re putting your trust in others to help realise your vision as a director, but they’re also trusting you to guide their work,” she said.

For Amelie, directing quickly became about more than creative decisions.

“Directing is leadership. Communication, listening to ideas, supporting your team and creating a safe environment on set are just as important as creativity.”

One of the most rewarding moments came during post-production when she compared her original storyboards with the final footage.

“I remember seeing the side-by-side images and being in disbelief at how accurate they were to the vision I had initially,” she said.

“There were many times during production where I felt the film was too large-scale for us to pull off, so seeing that we had achieved it was incredibly gratifying.”

Amelie credits her time studying screen and media at TAFE Queensland with giving her the practical, industry-ready skills and confidence needed to bring Sacrilege to life.

“Studying gave me a comprehensive understanding of the formal skills required in each aspect of filmmaking,” she said.

“I could approach pre-production, shooting and post-production confidently because I had the knowledge and skills required.”

Access to TAFE Queensland’s industry-standard facilities and equipment also played a key role in expanding her creative possibilities.

“Having access to professional-grade equipment allows you to think bigger and be more experimental in how you shoot your film,” she said.

“It meant I could create a film with more visual variety than a simple point-and-shoot style.”

She also valued the mentorship from her teachers, who encouraged experimentation while providing practical guidance throughout production.

“It was great being able to talk through ideas with them and take on their suggestions. At the same time, we were given the freedom to make something unique to us.”

The friendships and professional connections Amelie formed while studying have already proved invaluable as she begins her career in the film industry.

“The connections you make are so valuable. All the opportunities I’ve come across since graduating have been because of the friendships I made while studying,” she said.

She also credited assistant director Charly Phillips for her support throughout the making of Sacrilege.

“She had a precise understanding of the vision I had for the film and was so committed to helping bring it to life,” Amelie said.

“Having someone with such a great eye for detail was invaluable, especially when I was managing so many other aspects of the production.”

Being recognised by the AACTA so early in her career has strengthened Amelie’s confidence and motivation to continue pursuing filmmaking.

“The competitive nature of the industry can make it feel daunting. Any career in the arts requires determination and faith in yourself, so I’m incredibly grateful to receive this recognition so early.”

Looking ahead, Amelie hopes to continue exploring darker and thought-provoking storytelling.

“I’ve loved exploring the gothic genre and would love to keep working in that space,” she said.

“Sacrilege was inspired by classical European gothic storytelling, but I’d love to delve into Australian gothic in the future.”

For Amelie, the most compelling stories are the ones that leave audiences thinking long after the credits roll.

“Stories that provoke and don’t perfectly tie together at the end are much more interesting to me,” she said.

“I hope my future projects continue exploring topics that might feel uncomfortable for some but are important to examine,” concluded Amelie.