Director's Statement
My stories are reflections of everyday life; biographies of people we can relate to; friends, eccentric relatives, and the colourful people we encounter in the street. I try to get a balance between humour and pathos, light and shade, comedy and tragedy. I invented a word to describe my films, clayographies, a portmanteau term combining clay and biographies.
As an auteur, I have to wear many hats. One of my favourite roles is the Production Designer. Melbourne had one of the longest covid lockdowns but luckily, I was able to spend my confinement prepping for the film. Over five months I hand drew the 1600 storyboard panels on pieces of paper then moved on to drawing the 200 characters, 200 sets and the thousands of props that needed to be handmade. For this film, I wanted to keep the materials and aesthetic simple, and use four basic materials: clay, wire, paper and paint. Too much stopmotion has become slick and reliant on 3D printers. I wanted to celebrate the clay, its lumps, bumps and imperfections.
I was born with a hereditary shake which I have incorporated into my aesthetic. Every asset had to look flawed, asymmetrical; as if made in a hurry or by someone who was drunk. My character's psyches are imperfect and so I wanted their appearance to match my drawings which are loose, gestural and naive. I have a holistic approach to my work and strive for originality. Art imitates life and vice versa; for me they are inseparable and both art and filmmaking have become my yoga.
Memoir of a Snail Memoir of a Snail
Screenings
Kinodvorišče / Premiere
directed by Adam Elliot, written by Adam Elliot, cinematographer Gerald Thompson, editing Bill Murphy, animation supervisor John Lewis, music composer Elena Kats-Chernin, sound designer David Williams, producers Liz Kearney, Adam Eliott, production Arena Media, Screen Australia
IMDbPhotos
What's On
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies Lahn Mah
Pat Boonnitipat
Monday, 26. 05. 2025 / 17:20 / Main Hall
A young Thai director wraps important questions about family, intergenerational ties, and the pursuit of happiness into a touching dramedy that broke all box office records at home and became a cultural phenomenon. Bring your grandma – and don’t forget the tissues!
The Penguin Lessons The Penguin Lessons
Peter Cattaneo
Monday, 26. 05. 2025 / 20:00 / Main Hall
This moving dramedy about the unlikely friendship between a cynical Englishman and an adorable penguin was adapted by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) from a true story.
The Shrouds The Shrouds
David Cronenberg
Tuesday, 27. 05. 2025 / 18:00 / Main Hall
A dark but also humorous film about the corporeality of mourning, made by David Cronenberg after the death of his wife of many years. Starring Vincent Cassel as the director’s alter ego.