Short Film AFIN 181
My Gift
Directed by 
Michael Raso
AFIN 2023 Nominee
- 2023
- 13m
-
Australia - English
Stills
2 frames 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.
Credits
Written by
Produced by
Cinematography
Production Design
Music & Sound
Synopsis
A young boy is admitted to hospital for lifesaving treatment. He befriend's a young Indian girl who hopes a cure is found to save him before it's too late.
Director's Statement
Having worked on many other films, I always had the desire to make my own. It was just a matter of finding the right stories to tell. I try to write each story with something meaningful at the end, something that touches the hearts of the audience. The idea of 'My Gift' was conceived when I was working on the Australian Open Golf Tournament. I was on a break, and I was trying to come up with some new interesting ideas for a short film. I felt inspired when I watched a short news story that I thought was a great story. That news story became the blueprint for what 'My Gift' would ultimately become. I wrote half a dozen drafts, creating the world in storyboards, and the idea grew with each stage of pre-production. In 'My Gift', I aimed to make a film that would appeal to a broad audience, and the finished film is everything I hoped it would be. I hope people leave the film with a sense that despite all our cultural and ethnic backgrounds, we are all physically the same, and we can all help each other in a time of need.
What makes this one special
- 3 awards at other festivalsBenalla Shorts National & International Film Festival · IFEFA - International Film & Entertainment Festival Australia · SydFest Independent Film Festival
- Programmed at 18 other festivalsAcross 5 countries
- Nominated for Best Produced Screenplay
Also selected at
3 awards, 1 nomination, 3 finalist placings, 11 official selections across 18 other festivals
- WinnerBenalla Shorts National & International Film Festival
- WinnerIFEFA - International Film & Entertainment Festival Australia
- WinnerSydFest Independent Film Festival
- NomineeCatchlight Film Festival
- FinalistSanctuary International Film Festival
- FinalistCanada Shorts Film Festival
- FinalistScreen It International Film Festival
- SelectionFlorida Family Film Festival
- SelectionPeople of Passion International Film Festival
- SelectionSetting Sun Film Festival
- SelectionAmerican Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase - 2022 Cannes Film Festival
- SelectionMade In The West Film Festival
- SelectionMelbourne Lift-Off Online Festival 2022
- SelectionPune Short Film Festival
- SelectionStudio 66 Film Nights
- SelectionSydney Lift-Off Online Festival 2022
- SelectionUSA Film Festival - 38th Annual KidFilm Family Festival
- SelectionKids First! Film Festival
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Director's Biography
Michael Raso Director
Born in Frankston Victoria, Michael's passion for film came from watching old black and white and technicolor films from his father's collection. Beginning his career working voluntary at a local Television Museum and at Channel 31, Michael always knew he was going to work in the film and television industry. Starting out as a Production Runner on Rove Live, he now works with all the free to air television networks on major sporting events and reality shows as a camera operator. He's helped on low budget feature films in Melbourne and Sydney. His ambition to tell his own stories led him to write, produce and direct is first short film, 'Solitude', which screened in up sixty film festivals globally, and was placed in the National Film & Sound Archive of Australia for permanent preservation. 'My Gift' is Michael's second short film venture into writing, producing and directing. He hopes 'My Gift' will generate the same positive response as 'Solitude' did.
Placings
Recognised in these categories at AFIN 2023, as announced that season.
- Best Director Honorable Mention
- Best Live Action Short Film Finalist
- Best Actress Honorable Mention
- Best Australian Film Finalist
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.
My Gift was an official Nominee for Best Produced Screenplay at the AFIN International Film Festival 2023, 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 2023 edition.
- Choose Edit (contribute), then Awards, and add your film under the category (Best Produced Screenplay) 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.