Short Film AFIN 296
MAN EATER
Directed by 
Alexander Whitrow
AFIN 2025 Winner
- 2025
- 24m
-
Australia - English
- M
- Drama
- Psychological Thriller
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
Produced by
Synopsis
After murdering someone in a gruesome act of self-defense, an alleged psychopath is incarcerated into an asylum where she is forced to choose between her freedom or her morality.
Director's Statement
A mid 20th century story about guilt and justice, 'Man Eater' is the story of a misunderstood young woman and a commentary on the unfair treatment of women in that era and a reflection of todays societal standards. After being forced to do something horrible, Erica Kelly is incarcerated into an asylum for the criminally insane. With this story, location and character, I wanted to explore the mentality of a system that has no interest in helping those in need, but rather a barbaric, self-preserving system. A system, that unfortunately, we're starting to see slowly bleed back into todays world. Perspective plays a huge role in this film. I wrote the character of Erica to have the world stacked against her. An introvert who, from birth up until the events of the film, has always found herself at the bad end of the deal; with her upbringing, with her parents, with everything. Erica Kelly is the type who doesn't need any reason to do something stupid, but one day the world gives her one. And because of her past, a girl who's never had anyone on her side, who's always fighting an uphill battle, it's so easy for the world to blame and vilify her. And she can either accept that, or she can fight back.
What makes this one special
From the Judges
From the Judges
Real enthusiasm greeted this short. Admiration gathered around the clever cinematography, where blocking, lighting and camera angles work together with precision, and around a production design that convincingly builds its mid century world through props, costume and environment. The lead and supporting performances struck the panel as truthful and emotionally charged, and the recurring use of red running through the film stayed with them.
Director's Biography
Alexander Whitrow Director
Alexander Whitrow is a writer/director born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia. He began writing his first feature fresh out of high school and had it wrapped at 22 years old. The film went on to achieve a theatrical run and international distribution on several popular SVOD, TVOD and streaming platforms. Since then he has studied the art of writing, improving the depth and quality of his stories and characters all the while working in varied positions on different film sets, studying the methodology of filmmaking, expanding his insight and improving his technique.
Trailer
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.
MAN EATER was Winner of Best Australian Performance and a Nominee for Best Australian Short Film at the AFIN International Film Festival 2025, 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 2025 edition.
- Choose Edit (contribute), then Awards, and add your film under the category (Best Australian Performance and Best Australian Short Film) with the outcome shown on your laurels above.
- Submit. IMDb reviews it and publishes it to the event page and to your film's page.