Documentary Short
I am Living
Directed by 
Nick Bolton, Jess Milne
AFIN 2023 Finalist
- 2023
- 10m
-
Australia - English
Stills
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Credits
Written by
Produced by
Cinematography
Editing
Synopsis
The campaign's purpose is to expand understanding, and address community anxiety and some of the fears around the deterioration of health, dying, death, loss and grief.
Over two years, we followed eleven people across Australia, who knew they had 12 months or less to live, and asked them to share their story.
The campaign purpose is to expand understanding, and address community anxiety and some of the fears around deterioration of health, dying, death, loss and grief.
The campaign objectives are: - To promote, encourage and nurture positive conversations about dying, end-of-life care and death; - To offer a positive discourse to shape the community’s understanding of approaching and reaching the end of life; - To provide credible information about quality end of life care based on assessed need; - To learn from people who have found life, hope and healing as they approach the end-of-life; and - To communicate that each and every person matters to the last moment of their life.
Thanks to the courage, honesty and generosity of eleven persons with advanced life-limiting disease, their loved ones and caregivers, the campaign shares with you eleven highly intimate, authentic and educative encounters.
Our campaign participants elected to live an empowered and dignified life, as defined by themselves, their families and carers.
Director's Statement
Occasionally you hear of a project that grabs you immediately. It's when you do your best work. Jess and I had just finished our short film The Road to Vagator, which was our tribute to my late Mum. The Road to Vagator examined the conversations I had with my Mum, that I only had because she was dying. It won many film festivals but what was more pleasing was the response from viewers. Many commented how it made them think about their relationship with their own mother and father. What is it with Western cultures where we bury issues under the carpet. When we mentioned to people we were making this documentary web series, filming 11 people with 12months to live, many winced at the sombre subject matter. In actual fact the conversations were inspiring, tender, respectful, and beautiful. We got the sense our subjects not only wanted to tell their story, but had never been given the opportunity to tell their story. For many it was more than their last testament. It was an opportunity to be able to tell their loved ones how they feel. To offer their friends, and viewers, some perspective or advice. To gain some closure. And for some an opportunity to heal broken bridges with family. For Jess and I, we were grateful to receive many life lessons from the eleven, and now we often say yes to an invitation, as Edward encourages us to. We often have people over for dinner in honour of Joff and Razak. These eleven wonderful people have left an everlasting impression on us and changed the way we see the world. We hope we have done their story justice and hope that they inspire you too. Yes its about death, but you will enjoy these vignettes!
Directors' Biography
Nick Bolton Jess Milne Directors
Co-directed by Jess Milne and Nick Bolton Jess Milne Co-Founder and Creative Director With degrees in fine art, theatre, digital design and a masters from AFTRS, and a career as a content producer in major organisations including Cutting Edge, Department of Defence, Mazda and the ACMA, Jess has extensive experience to lead the creative and artistic direction of TEN ALPHAS. As a director and Director of Photography, she has won awards around the world for her original films, and shoots most of our creative projects. Nick Bolton Co-Founder and Managing Director Nick is drawn to projects that investigate the human condition, that makes us think about the world we live in and how we operate within it and with each other. Nick is an award winning producer, director in film, online, commercial and theatre. He acquired his Masters in Screen Art and Business from AFTRS in 2014. At TEN ALPHAS, Nick manages the business, looks after the sales and marketing, and writes, produces and directs the content. He sits on the board of Screen Illawarra, is a Creative Industry Business Advisor for NSW Government's Business Connect scheme and is a Guest Lecturer for AFTRS and Sydney Film School. About TEN ALPHAS Our live action short film Mate, became the first Australian film to ever win the prestigious Clermont Ferrand film festival in France, and is now longlisted for nomination at the 2023 Oscars. After screening at Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festivals in 2022 it's also available to stream online SBS on-demand in australia. Watch here
Placings
Recognised in this category at AFIN 2023, as announced that season.
- Best Documentary Short Finalist