Poster for Dear Moon, directed by Aimee Dunn, AFIN 2026

Student Short Film

Dear Moon

Directed by Aimee Dunn

AFIN 2026 Nominee · 2 nominations

  • 2026
  • 12m
  • Australia
  • English
  • M
  • Drama
Australian Student Film First-time filmmaker
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Stills

8 frames

Nominee

Best Student Narrative Short Form

Yufeng Liu

Nominee

Best Australian Supporting Performance

Logan So

Still in the running. Winner announced at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.

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

Synopsis

After losing her best friend Yue to depression, Joy struggles to celebrate his first birthday without him, reflecting on their past, she desperately tries to only remember the good things.

Director's Statement

The inspiration for ‘Dear Moon’ began from the curiosity and exploration of grief and birthdays. Birthdays are a day when we are thankful for a loved one’s birth. This juxtaposes that of death anniversaries which are often filled with sadness and grief. There are plenty of films that deal with grief and explore the emotions experienced during the anniversary of a loved one’s death. But what do individuals do on their past loved one’s birthdays? This story does not take away from the fact that grief is extremely difficult, but encourages conversations around passed loved ones because that is how they keep living - through our memories. I wanted this short film to represent the importance of talking about passed loved ones. Rather than remembering the day they died which can often focus on the painful ending, ‘Dear Moon’ focuses on their birthdays and how their lives were not only dark but also bright. For those experiencing the crazy unexplainable complexities of grief, ‘Dear Moon’ provides comfort for audiences. It reminds us that it is okay to buy a cake and make dinner and sing happy birthday for someone who is not here anymore.

What makes this one special

Director's Biography

Aimee Dunn Director

Focusing on storytelling and creativity, Aimee Dunn is an emerging writer and director with a passion for authentic, emotive narratives in the hope of connecting with audiences. As a Griffith University student studying a Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production, she has dedicated herself to improving her film knowledge and skills to expand her experience and embark on a career in the film industry. Through Dear Moon, she was able to utilise her communication skills to work collaboratively, thus cultivating her unique perspective of grief.

Trailer

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Dear Moon was an official Nominee for Best Student Narrative Short Form and Best Australian Supporting Performance at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.

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AFIN 2026

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Screening 1 at Dendy Cinemas Portside, Brisbane

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