Fantastic Film Festival: Bluebird director Darwin Schulze talks about his creative vision to bring adventure back to Australian screens

ion to our humanity. At twelve years of age, Darwin won the award for Best Film by a Child Producer, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing at the KidzFlicks awards for his short film Red Panda Man. He had previously made a claymation short film called My Eco Friendly House. Darwin then also was a Tropfest Jr finalist for his short Milk. Again, he was only twelve years old at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIZDIpQoomY

Flash forward a decade and Darwin's creative streak continues with his latest short film Bluebird, a brilliantly realised short that pays homage to the classic swashbuckling films from the early 1900s. That sense of exploring and amplifying our relationship with the environment continues with Darwin's work as a cinematographer on the short film The Overthrow, and underpins the visual style of Bluebird. Bluebird features musical sequences, fighting, and romance, all with a backdrop of a glorious green environment that elevates the adventure of the story of a Princess seeking revenge in delightfully entertaining ways.

There's a level of vision and scope at work within Bluebird that is a rarity for Australian films, and it's that vision that underpins the following conversation with Darwin, recorded ahead of Bluebird's Australian Premiere at the upcoming Fantastic Film Festival Australia. Bluebird will be screening in the Sydney Shorts package alongside a smorgasbord of great local talent, including Chris Elena's latest film Passion Pop.

Bluebird is a film that's designed for an audience to appreciate and enjoy on the big screen. There's an understanding and appreciation of cinematic language and the possibilities of creative storytelling that makes the work of Darwin Schulze a delight to watch. In the following conversation, Darwin talks about how his journey into filmmaking began, what it means to have supportive parents who encouraged his creative journey, and how he managed to create the distinct and expansive look of Bluebird on a microbudget.

Bluebird screens as part of the Sydney Shorts package at Fantastic Film Festival Australia on 27 April 2025.

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