Amissa Anima
The next screening will be on September 17, 2021 at 12:00 am PDT
Synopsis: Four boys survive on night streets of St Kilda’s red-light district in the 1980’s, when the sexual exploitation of street kids was at epic proportions. Turning tricks for a feed and drugs, their trust in the world has long since been obliterated. Their only place of safety and dignity is in their loyalty to each other and the power of their bond. The fragile balance is broken when an act of betrayal pushes them to perform an unspeakable act. The characters are fictional, but the story is based on true events. (Adult themes).
Language
Run Time
Starring
Justin Hosking (Irvin)
David Kara (Paul)
Directed by
Written by
Produced by
Bernie Clifford
Cinematographer
Director's Statement
Amissa Anima is set in 1980’s St Kilda, Australia, when a network of paedophiles preyed on street kids as young as 10 years old. The characters are fictional but based on true events and the writers’ personal experiences as teenagers growing up on St Kilda streets.
This occurred worldwide and took place before child protection laws and awareness were as strong as they are today. (See the 1981 German film Christiane F. – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo). It is still a major crime today, but manifests differently with technology.
David Markin and Tatiana Doroshenko grew up together in St Kilda, and they are close to this story, witnessing the long-term effects of child-abuse and neglect across generations. This project is a voice for those silenced by shame, ignorance and pain.
We aimed to reveal a depth and insight into unspeakable stories that are often impossible to access via mainstream art forms without being gratuitous, prurient and voyeuristic.
Director's Bio
Tatiana’s short films and screen works have seen audiences in Australia, Europe and America. Screenings include HollyShorts, European Media Arts Festival (EMAF) 2007, VAD Spain 2006, Transmediale Berlin 2002, and the Santiago Biennale in 2003. In 2006, she wrote and co-produced a Tropfest finalist short film. A number of her short form scripts have done well in local and international competitions. The co-written screenplay for Amissa Anima was short listed for script awards in Australian, USA and Mexico.
