Comic Book AFIN 098
Gorilla my Dreams: Mime of my Life
Written by Big Tim Stiles
AFIN 2021 Winner
- 2021
-
Australia - English
- Detective Noir
- Superhero
Winner
Best Comic
Part of this film's cast or crew? Let us know to add or correct credits, genres or details. Filmmaker sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Synopsis
In Struggle-Town the streets are protected by KNOCKAROUNDGUY, a depressed gorilla who fancies himself a superhero.
But when a street mime is found dead (asphyxiated inside an actual invisible box), KNOCKAROUND-GUY soon finds himself wading through the ugly and dangerous underbelly of Struggle-Town and before too long, face-to-face with LUCIFER BIM-BOM and his KILLER KLOWN SYNDICATE.
Writer's Statement
Ten years ago I had a motor bike accident and shattered my right upper arm. From that day I've lived with chronic pain. Every second of every minute of every day I am in pain. Long story short, that's where the depression crept in, though I didn't realise it at the time. My body was broken, my mind was broken, and soon my relationship and family was broken too. I came up with Gorilla my Dreams after stumbling across a number of detective noir stories that weren't set in your standard noir worlds. From that catalyst came Knockaround-Guy and Struggle-Town. As I wrote the character, I discovered that this guy, this Knockaround-Guy, possesses the same self-doubts that I do. He isn't your confident, star-spangled boy scout, or a powerful, unbeatable hero from the stars. No, this guy is just like me. He's just like you. He is scared of screwing up, and worried that he'll never measure up, but he continues to go out there. He continues to try to find life's purpose. He continues to help people in need.
From the Judges
From the Judges
The dialogue lands with a neat, unfussy snap, and the detective story it carries reads as a genuine page turner. They found the world of this comic lived in and thought through, with artwork that rewards a slow look and a likeable lead at its centre. Strange and cool in the best way, it left the panel wanting more of it.
Writer's Biography
Big Tim Stiles Writer
Big Tim Stiles is an Award-Winning writer based in Ngunnawal Country, Australia. His comic book series GORILLA MY DREAMS has won the Best Comic Book category in half-a-dozen festivals so far (including the Australian Shadow Awards and The New York Science Fiction and Horror Festival), and most recently his horror comic book MASTIFF won Best Written Work at the Scream Queens Shockathon Festival. Big Tim is one host of the popular podcast LUKE & TIM MAKE A MOVIE, which spawned the Award-Winning short films PERFORMACE REVIEW and FALLEN STARS. His fiction, art, and films have been celebrated domestically and abroad.
Official laurels
Each recognition carries a permanent, verifiable AFIN credential - a link a filmmaker can put on a CV - plus a downloadable laurel for posters and press kits.
Nominee toolkit
Everything you need to share and credit this recognition.
Ready-made announcement
Copy this for your socials, newsletter or press kit.
Gorilla my Dreams: Mime of my Life was Winner of Best Comic at the AFIN International Film Festival 2021, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
Add it to IMDb
IMDb adds festival awards from the festival's event page, not from your film's page.
- Open the AFIN International Film Festival event page on IMDb and choose the 2021 edition.
- Choose Edit (contribute), then Awards, and add your film under the category (Best Comic) with the outcome shown on your laurel above.
- Submit. IMDb reviews it and publishes it to the event page and to your film's page.