Screenplay AFIN 358
Goodbye Ted
Written by 
Ged Maybury
AFIN 2026 Nominee
- 2026
- 8pp
- English
- M
- Drama
- Comedy
Wrote this screenplay? Let us know to add or correct the credits or details. Writer sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Credits
Production Company
- Lookafar
Synopsis
Ted was a real good guy, a hard worker, a great mate, a smoker, … and dead. He was also a nasty controlling abusive husband, so it's a good thing he is dead!
We join his meek little wife who is left holding the ashes of his life. She is called Julie. Actually, he called her Julie. He couldn’t be bothered pronouncing her real name. You see, she was a Philippino wife; a mail-order bride. And this is HER story. A story of recovery..
On the nomination
23 years in the making, from a feature-treament to a Short, developed via QPix (twice!) and optioned 3 times. Quite a journey! It is the 1st script I dared submit to a comp [Finalist straight-off!]. Now on its 6th tilt at 'stardom'. I can never forget the real 'Ted' and how horrid he was to his wife in front of an entire restaurant. I just hope she is now free!
Writer's Statement
"Goodbye, Ted" is based on two IRL people who came ( as part of a large group-booking) to a restaurant were I was working tables in 1988. He spent the entire evening showing off how dominant he was towards her - sickeningly abusive! And how meek and trammeled she was. We were all horrified, yet none of us, nor any his workmates, challenged any of it. We in the kitchen all seethed with disgust, but felt powerless. I *so* wanted to free her .. (beat) .. somehow ... POSTER CREDIT: Hweiling Ow - (see iMDB) - who optioned my script in 2017, but could not raise the production $$s.
What makes this one special
- Programmed at 5 other festivals
- Nominated for Best Short Screenplay
From the Judges
From the Judges
Visual storytelling drives the screenplay, letting household objects and small acts of ritual carry a whole arc of reclamation. Its tonal balance of black comedy and quiet drama pairs with tight, purposeful pacing to turn a near-wordless montage into a cinematic and emotionally resonant piece of short-form writing.
Also selected at
3 finalist placings, 2 official selections across 5 other festivals
- FinalistDark Nights Film Fest
- FinalistBOSTON SCREENPLAY AWARDS
- FinalistMiami Screenplay Awards
- SelectionOxford Script Awards
- SelectionAtlanta Screenplay Awards 2022.
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Writer's Biography
Ged Maybury Writer
Ged Maybury is a children's book author. He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1953, spent his childhood in Dunedin, and has been based in Australia since 2002. He has been writing books for children and young adults since 1984. He was a finalist in the AIM New Zealand Children's Book Awards 1994 with The Triggerstone, and in the NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2001;[1] with Crab Apples. He writes science fiction, in particular of the steampunk subgenre, and humour. In 2019, he digitally re-released his 'Horse Apples' series, including the missing fourth book: Dinosaur Apples, set in Australia. In the same year, he released five other children's books and a six-book Steampunk series “Across the Stonewind Sky” [Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ged_Maybury]
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.
Goodbye Ted was an official Nominee for Best Short Screenplay at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, 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 2026 edition.
- Choose Edit (contribute), then Awards, and add your film under the category (Best Short 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.
From AFIN members
No comments yet.
AFIN members can rate this film and comment on it. Sign in or see membership.