Heroine

Short Film (Full Length) – 2021

Themes of domestic violence and control fuel this short film — the overall winner of OnScreen, the short film challenge for Kiwi high school students. Director Lily Knox, a Year 12 student at Dunedin’s St Hilda’s Collegiate, took on multiple roles behind the scenes. Delivering on the contest brief of "truth is stranger than fiction", the film involves a couple about to marry, a drive to keep up appearances, and the personal toll it takes on the victim of abuse (played by Ploy Promyot). Judge Angela Bloomfield noted the "wonderful cinematography and editing", while Jennifer Ward-Lealand praised the strength of the no dialogue script.

What a wonderful piece —- I couldn’t look away. An amazing approach to telling a strong story. We just don’t need words sometimes. From the very beginning I was hooked ... well done.
– Angela Bloomfield, one of the judges of the 2021 OnScreen competition