USQ student's film gains national exposure
A SHORT film directed by University of Southern Queensland media student Ryan Butler has been showcased on a national platform at the Cockatoo Island Film Festival.
The comedy, titled Magica, appeared alongside six other films short-listed in the sub-category of Magical Mystery Tour; a celebration of filmmaking craft focused on exploring the unusual, unimaginable and unreal.
The five-day film festival held near Sydney Harbour drew Australian and international filmmakers, and more than 40,000 movie fans.
Mr Butler, an Applied Media student at the Springfield campus, said he hadn't lost the smile on his face.
"I knew the writer-producer, Terrance Young, had entered the film in a number of festivals and competitions worldwide, but I wasn't sure which ones," Ryan said.
"As soon as I found out about the nomination I raced home to look at our film listed on the festival website and that is when it all sunk in."
Mr Butler said Magica explored the concept of greed.
Chaos erupts after the main character Malcolm finds a magic lamp, complete with a genie.
