From NYC to local underdog

UPDATE: The Underdog Film Fest was an incredible showcase of talent from the City of Logan and beyond. The 2024 winners are:

• Best Made In Logan Short: Erzi by Kailani D’Amour and Tin Huyen Pham
• Best Animated Film: First-ish Contact by Kai Smythe
• Best Multicultural Film: HOME by Mark Bernard
• First Nations Film: Aboriginal Warrior by Brooke Collard
• LGBTQIA+ Film: Welcome to Queens’ Land by Hugh Whitehouse
• Best Documentary: Foundation by Jack Hinz
• Underdog Award: Mine Mine Mine by Heath Ramsay

FROM NYC TO LOCAL UNDERDOG

After winning film awards in America, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia, Kailani D’Amour hopes to continue her winning streak as an ‘underdog’ of Logan culture.

The Rochedale South filmmaker is ready to make her mark at the City of Logan’s inaugural Underdog Film Fest this September.

At 18, she scooped up her first international win at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Awards, followed by other events such as the New York Film Awards.

Now, aged 24, Kailani is pitching her talents in a new film festival on home turf.

With co-director Tin Huyen Pham, Kailani has submitted a drama short titled Erzi – which means ‘son’ in Chinese – a story about immigrant family dynamics, dreams and healing.

‘I’m glad something’s finally happening in Logan. A lot of artists live here now and I hope it encourages filmmakers to continue their craft,’ Kailani says.

In the short, Erzi clashes with his mother over his decision to become a professional musician.

This leads the mother to contemplate her own relationship with her parents and their experiences of hardship.

She then has to decide whether she will support Erzi with his life journey.

While tackling the complexities of intergenerational conflict, the simple story holds a deeper universality that can be felt by anyone who has ever doubted their dreams.

Photo above: (From left) Tin Huyen Pham, Tracie Filmer, Logan So and Kailani D’Amour on the film set.

‘After screening at St Kilda and the Gold Coast Film Festival this year, a lot of people came up to say even though they weren’t the exact demographic, they could relate to Erzi’s story,’ Kailani says.

‘We are often persuaded to forget the significance of art to instead focus on productivity and stability, so we hope Erzi inspires people,’ Kailani explains, revealing that the central message of the film is something she and Tin have experienced first-hand as Asian Australians.

While Kailani earned teaching qualifications as a ‘back-up’ career before pursuing film, Tin faced his parents’ initial disapproval after quitting his law degree to pursue a career in filmmaking.

‘Representation in art is essential and I’m thrilled there are finally more Asian stories coming to screen,’ Kailani says.

She says Logan’s diverse landscapes were the perfect backdrop for the short film, which includes scenes filmed in Kingston and Bethania.

One of Erzi’s most poignant moments is set in the tranquil parklands of Bethania’s Jeta Gardens retirement village, complete with a shimmering lake and ornate Chinese bridge.

‘Working with the cast, Tracie Filmer and Logan So, and our local crew was an absolute dream – they brought the story to life,’ Kailani says.

‘I feel very fortunate to live in Logan where there are so many filmmaking opportunities close by.

‘It’ll be exciting to meet other local artists during the Underdog Film Fest.’

Learn more about Underdog Film Fest.

Photo at top: Behind the scenes in Kingston during the filming of short film Erzi by local filmmaker Kailani D’Amour.