Stills
10 frames
Nominee
Best Art Direction
Still in the running. Winner announced at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
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Credits
Written by
Produced by
Cinematography
Production Company
Synopsis
A vengeful-mistress is kidnapped and left to die in the Australian bush on her morning of ex-lovers wedding day.
Director's Statement
The concept for Red River Cowboy was born in 2023, during a time of profound transition in my life. At its heart, the story asks a simple but difficult question: what are we willing to sacrifice to pursue revenge? That tension between holding on and releasing, between anger and acceptance, became the spine of the film. This was not a project made lightly. I poured my life savings into it, alongside my producer Christian McCarty, determined to see the vision through. I attempted to ride a horse (convincingly) in just two months to step authentically into the role of John Blanchard - named after my hero: my grandfather who passed. We drove twelve hours to Roma, in Outback Queensland, more than four times, to scout the perfect landscapes that could hold the weight of the story. I edited the film myself, chasing the rhythm and grit I felt it needed. Every frame carries the truth of how much it cost me, and how much it gave back in return. Red River Cowboy was my big swing at the industry - a film that demanded everything I had and nearly broke me in the making. But in that breaking, I discovered something essential. The film is a reflection of that journey: a reflection on loss, revenge, resilience, and ultimately, the choice to let go. My hope is that audiences feel the rawness of that struggle, and perhaps see echoes of their own battles in it.
What makes this one special
- Grace Wriggles has been here beforeAlso in the 2024 programme
- Award-winning elsewhereRound Top Film Festival
- Nominated in 4 AFIN categoriesBest Australian Short Film · Best Art Direction · Best Cinematography · Best Australian Supporting Performance
Also selected at
1 award, 1 nomination, 1 official selection across 3 other festivals
- WinnerRound Top Film Festival
- NomineeAACTA Awards
- SelectionFlickerfest
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Director's Biography
Grace Wriggles Director
Grace is an award-winning Australian actor and emerging filmmaker based in Queensland, Australia. In 2025 she became a 2026 AACTA Nominee for her short film Red River Cowboy - which also won 'Best Overall Short Film' at the Round Top Film Festival 2025. She was named Gold Coast Film Festival's Emerging Filmmaker for 2025. On screen, she's known for her comedic flair, with standout roles in the series Planted, the award-winning short Podcasters (Best Actor, Melbourne Underground Film Festival), and romantic comedy The One Thing (Red Ladder Productions). As a filmmaker, Grace has won accolades including Best Emerging Female Director (AFIN 2024) and has written and directed festival-screened shorts. She is a passionate filmmaker with a love for storytelling in all its forms.
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.
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Verified by AFIN Nominee · Best Australian Short Film Download laurel Download certificate -
Verified by AFIN Nominee · Best Art Direction Download laurel -
Verified by AFIN Nominee · Best Cinematography Download laurel Download certificate -
Verified by AFIN Nominee · Best Australian Supporting Performance Download laurel Certificate: Mitchell Cox
Nominee toolkit
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Red River Cowboy was an official Nominee for Best Australian Short Film, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography 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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