IMAGE: http://www.abc.net.au/

Would we have had this years Mystery Road without Ivan Sen’s ’98 short Vanish? Or Robert Connolly’s million dollar success The Turning without his ’97 short Rust Bucket?
The fact is short films are the backbone of the film industry and the beginning of amazing careers for some of the world’s greatest auteurs.
Here, Cinema Australia takes a look at the four shorts the Australian Film Institute deems the years best.

DUKES OF BRAXSTONIA

Directed by: Stu Connolly

I don’t think it’s my thirty years of age that left my head cockeyed after viewing this animated ‘short’. I love cartoons but this was just bloody annoying. And how does an episode of a TV series qualify for an AACTA in the first place? That’s like and episode of Breaking Bad being nominated for a best short film Oscar.
Larj’s forced dismissal from his band sees him meet a guitar god who teaches him to become a rock star. Once he masters his axe he’s welcomed back as his band’s guitarist which had been taken over by a mad monkey. Someone get me a scotch on the rocks.
Of all the animated shorts out there surely there was one more deserving of a nomination than this waste of time.