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Synopsis
A laconic Australian farmer, Jack, is left alone on his property when his partner Jess walks out, taking their cattle dog Max with her. Jack turns his desperation outward, driving to Jess's mother's house, being turned away by police, failing to reach her by phone. When a wild dog threatens his livestock, Jack finds a displaced purpose in the hunt, but one night in the field, with Max beside him and a rifle in his hands, his grief reaches its darkest point. In the days that follow, Jack repairs the broken fence Jess always asked him to fix, but in the end it's not enough. Jack stands at his new front gate, watching as the world moves on without him, taking everything he loves into the dark.
What makes this one special
- INDY DAVIES has been here beforeAlso in the 2023 programme
From the Judges
From the Judges
A quiet, cumulative pressure gathers across this rural drama, its emotional weight settling long after the closing scene. The rural Australian voice feels controlled and specific, trusting silence and behaviour to carry meaning. Recurring images of fences, clocks, paddocks and a watchful dog shape a progression that feels honest and earned.
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Stay was Winner of Best Short Screenplay at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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