Student Short Film
How We Ended Up Here
Directed by 
Ruby Haraldson
AFIN 2026 Nominee
- 2026
- 13m
-
Australia - English
- M
- Psychological Drama
- Coming-of-age
- Teen
Stills
8 frames 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
Starring
Cinematography
Editing
Music & Sound
Production Company
- Sly Fox Films
Synopsis
At a house party, four teenagers try to ignore everything they’re avoiding. Ivy is used to pretending she’s fine - about her family, about herself, about everything. But as the night unfolds, it becomes clear she’s not the only one hiding something. What starts as a normal night slowly unravels, forcing each of them to face what they’ve been too scared to say out loud.
VIMEO LINK format is through Website link- Password: HWEUH2026
On the nomination
Ivy's role in How We Ended Up Here represents the struggles many young people face with their mental health. To have my performance recognised through this nomination is an incredible honour, and I'm so grateful to everyone who connected with her story.
Director's Statement
At 14 I wrote and directed this film based on what I saw around me every day. People my age are really good at pretending everything is fine. We go out, we laugh, we distract ourselves - but a lot of the time, no one actually talks about what’s really going on. I wanted to show what happens when all of that builds up at once. Each character is dealing with something they don’t feel safe to talk about - family issues, pressure, identity, control - and instead of facing it, they avoid it. Ivy is the one who finally says something. Even though it doesn’t go the way she expects, I wanted to show how important it is to actually ask people if they’re okay - and mean it. This film is for anyone who has ever said “I’m fine” when they weren’t.
What makes this one special
- Nominated for Best Youth Performance
- A first-time filmmaker
- A student film
Director's Biography
Ruby Haraldson Director
Ruby Haraldson is a 15-year-old writer, director and actor. She independently wrote, directed, and starred in her debut short film How We Ended Up Here, working with a cast of 15 to bring the story to life outside of any formal film program. Her work focuses on real experiences of teenagers today, particularly around mental health, identity, and the pressure to appear “okay.” She is passionate about creating films that feel honest and relatable to her generation, and hopes to continue developing stories that encourage people to open up and connect.
Trailer
Cast
Official laurels
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How We Ended Up Here was an official Nominee for Best Youth Performance at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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