Seven outstanding films from ECU have been selected to feature in the Festival, including Chookas.
Western Australia's biggest celebration of local screen culture, the 2025 WA Made Film Festival will showcase seven films made by Edith Cowan University (ECU)'s 2024 cohort of students from the School of Arts and Humanities, WA Screen and Media Academy (WASMA).
The annual Festival is a vibrant celebration of the WA filmmaking community and only independent film festival featuring exclusively locally made screen content. It provides a platform for local creatives to showcase their filmmaking and production skills, creativity, and stories.
ECU's Screen and Media Head of Production, Alzbeta Rekosh said that the WA Made Film Festival is a great opportunity for ECU students and graduates to showcase their work because it celebrates WA talent and showcases emerging filmmakers.
"Having a film accepted into the Festival is a great recognition and a testament to the high-level skills and creativity of the film and filmmaking team," said Alzbeta.
"ECU's WA Screen and Media Academy has a long history of providing high standard education and practical training to students. This has resulted in providing graduates that are highly regarded in the industry."
Associate Dean (Creative Humanities), Professor Katya Johanson said, "ECU seeks to make WA the home of great screen production, providing opportunities for new voices to create exciting, courageous and beautiful films. WA Made Films provides these films a forum to see, enjoy and celebrate these new voices."
Go Along and You Shouldn't Whistle at Night
Go Along and You Shouldn't Whistle at Night are scripted short films co-created by the 2024 WASMA (previously WA Screen Academy [WASA]) student cohort featuring WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Aboriginal Performance students.
In Go Along, tension between housemates rises as the paranoia of a horror movie enthusiast is triggered by an eccentric new neighbour and her increasingly strange behaviour. It was directed by Stephanie Beckham, written by Graham Spilsted and produced by Ying Chu, from an original concept by Shaquita Nannup and Sedriece Kickett.
Go Along.
In You Shouldn't Whistle at Night, a young woman's encounter with a spirit leads her to reconnect with her estranged sister. It was directed by Rodgrigo Torres Badoino, written by Gabrielle O'Keefe and produced by Nicholas Hooker, from an original concept by Georgina Coulson, Shakalla Hadland and Conway Chunnary.
You Shouldn't Whistle at Night.
Chookas, Hard Drive, Eat the Meat and Santa Duties
Chookas, Hard Drive, Eat the Meat and Santa Duties are scripted short films created by the 2024 cohort of screen production students in collaboration with WAAPA's third year acting class. ECU undergraduate screen production students and WAAPA costume, sound and composition students also collaborated on these films.
In Chookas, on the opening night of a high-stakes theatre production, two friends discover secrets and lies backstage that spill out on stage and threaten to derail their careers and the future of the company. It was directed by Nicholas Hooker, written by Gabrielle O’Keefe and produced by Tahlia Kelleher.
Hard Drive tells the story of an accountant working late one night at the office who gets caught up in a heist and prioritises finishing his report over escaping. It was directed by Brendan Docherty, written by Cameron A. Clear and produced by Manatalah Soliman.
Hard Drive.
In Eat the Meat, a drag queen and her partner are attacked at home by mind-controlled protestors wielding weaponised fast food guaranteed to make them straight and angry. It was directed and written by Jacob Kemp and produced by Ying Chu.
Eat the Meat.
In Santa Duties, on Christmas Eve, a single mother struggles with her responsibilities as Santa. It was directed by Alana Spencer, written by Antonio Ivic and produced by Robert M. Wilkinson.
Santa Duties.
Blue Bicycle
Blue Bicycle is a short film created by ECU undergraduate screen production students in 2024. When mechanic Graham helps the young Lucy fix her broken bicycle, he discovers their interaction mirrors his past relationship with an estranged young daughter. It was directed by Sophia Hull, written by Elle Cooper and produced by Aussie Maluka.
Blue Bicycle
The WA Made Film Festival is on from 21 February to 2 March 2025, explore the full program.
Find out more about ECU's WA Screen and Media Academy.
