Nicholas Tory Producer, Director
Nicholas Tory, Jonathan Nix, Aunty Dot Martin, Phil Sullivan Writer
Nardi Simpson Key Cast
Project Type: Animation, Short
Genres: Environmental, Aboriginal Culture, Historical, Australian, Magic Realism, Mythology, Political
Runtime: 19 minutes 15 seconds
Completion Date: January 26, 2021
Production Budget: 380,000 AUD
Country of Origin: Australia
Country of Filming: Australia
Language: English
Aspect Ratio: 30:9
Film Color: Color
First-time Filmmaker: Yes
Bourke is a place that exists on the edge of civilisation, and at the edge of Australia’s collective memory. When you visit this part of Australia, and really see it, it will speak to you. In a modern context, Bourke represents one of those places that sees ‘Boom and Bust’ on an almost seasonal basis. An abandoned place. Littered with memories and old stories. But when you look closely, you see that life is everywhere. Impossibly beautiful. Life hibernates. Life adapts.
The people of Bourke Shire are more resilient than the rest of us. After the Europeans arrived, Aboriginal people in Bourke were taken away, and others were brought here, to live in the missions. Today there are more than 20 tribes and clans represented in the region, so identity is a problem for a lot of Aboriginal people. Is this my place? Or is this your place? Have a think about what that must feel like.
Lifeblood is a film about the intersection of place, history, and our identity. Who are we as Australians? We are disconnected from our true cultural identity. We don’t understand our environment, and therefore we don’t know how to protect the delicate equilibriums that have existed for millions of years on our planet.
Bourke people are more closely connected with the way our planet is changing. People suffer when the river is low. Businesses go bankrupt because of the drought. People change their livelihoods accordingly. We ignore the truth, and an entire culture that flourished for hundreds of thousands of years slowly dies. Why do we ignore these truths? Where are we rushing to? Stop and look. Stay a while, and you will see.
Director Biography
Nicholas Tory Nick has spent the past 20 years working with artistic production teams on a wide range of world class projects. Over the past 10 years, Nick's art practice, and his cultural work and public art production business, Ample Projects, has developed with a key focus on creating work that combines traditional artistic methods with new and old technology, to create relatable cultural work and public artwork.
Nick’s work is a response to living in our world - seeking to explore themes around the experiences of living in urban environments, and a desire to be closer to nature, the fragility and complexity of all life on our planet, human mythologies, and the roles that technology plays in our lives and in our world.
Through collaboration, Nick’s work utilizes light, spatial and object design, electronic engineering, interactive design, sound, projection, animation, film making and traditional techniques like drawing and painting. Nicholas hopes to produce though-provoking work that makes our experience of the world better. Director Statement Lifeblood is an animated film about White apathy in Australia - from a cultural perspective, as well as the way we ‘see’ and treat our environment in this country. Lifeblood is also an art film - The film takes place in Bourke New South Wales, a 'forgotten' place, but an undeniably beautiful place, to watch Lifeblood is to experience the beauty and complexity of this place, to really see the district, and understand it’s history, and the delicate equilibriums at play within every aspect of life in this part of the world.
I wanted to create an Australian Animated film that explores the ideas around the intersection of place, history, and our identity. Who are we as White Australians? We are disconnected from our true cultural identity. We don’t understand our environment, and therefore we don’t know how to protect the delicate equilibriums that have existed for millions of years on our planet. Lifeblood is a story told from a white Australian perspective, but was written by Aboriginal and White Australians. We ignore the truth, and an entire culture that flourished for hundreds of thousands of years slowly dies. Why do we ignore these truths? Where are we rushing to? Stop and look. Stay a while, and you will see.
Screening and Awards
St Kilda International Film Festival Melbourne Australia May 20, 2021 World Nominated Best Animation
St Kilda International Film Festival Melbourne Australia May 20, 2021 World Nominated Best Original Score
St Kilda International Film Festival Melbourne Australia May 20, 2021 World Nominated Best Sound Design & Production
Revelation Perth International Film Festival Perth Australia July 7, 2021 Western Australia
Indy Shorts Indianapolis United States July 10, 2021 World - International
Fantasia International Film Festival Montreal Canada August 5, 2021 Canada
Sydney International Film Festival Sydney Australia November 3, 2021 New South Wales Finalist: Dendy Awards - Best Animation (Yoram Gross Award)
Sydney International Film Festival Sydney Australia November 3, 2021 New South Wales Finalist Dendy Awards - Best Director
Show Me Shorts Auckland New Zealand October 2, 2021 New Zealand
Catalina Long Beach & Catalina Island United States September 17, 2021 California
Montreal International Animation Film Festival - ANIMAZE Montreal Canada August 27, 2021 Selection
Chicago International Children's Film Festival Chicago United States November 5, 2021 Selection
2021 ATOM Awards Melbourne Australia December 16, 2021 Award Winner Best Animation
Uppsala Short Film Festival Uppsala Sweden October 25, 2021 Sweden Selection
Manchester Film Festival Manchester United Kingdom March 12, 2022 United Kingdom Selection
Flickerfest International Short Film Festival Sydney Australia January 21, 2022 Award Winner
Berlin Short Film Festival BERLIN Germany February 1, 2022 AWARD WINNER - Best Animated Film
Palm Springs Animation Festival Palm Springs United States April 30, 2022 Selection
Sonoma International Film Festival Sonoma United States March 23, 2022 Award Winner - Best Animated Film (Short)
Harlem International Film Festival Harlem United States May 5, 2022 Selection
Stockholm Independent Film Festival Stockholm Sweden May 14, 2022 Selected
Los Angeles Film Awards Los Angeles United States March 2, 2022 Award Winner - Best Director,
Los Angeles Film Awards Los Angeles United States March 2, 2022 Best First Time Director
OTB | Only The Best Film Awards Miami United States June 10, 2022 Selected
10th Australian Production Design Guild Awards Sydney Australia November 7, 2021 Award Winner - STORM FX ANIMATION DESIGN AWARD
Global Shorts Los Angeles United States April 22, 2022 Award Winner - Award of Excellence
Global Shorts Los Angeles United States April 22, 2022 Award Winner - Best Editor,
INDIE SHORTS AWARDS NEW YORK New York United States May 3, 2022 Award Winner - Best Sound Design
RED MOVIE AWARDS Reims France May 7, 2023 France Award Winner - Best Animated Film
Phoenix Shorts Ontario Canada February 26, 2022 Award Winner - Best Editor
Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift Toronto Canada February 15, 2022 Award Winner - Best Animated Short Film, Award Winner - Best Male Director
International Cosmopolitan Film Festival of Tokyo Tokyo Japan February 11, 2022 Award Winner - Best Short Film
International Cosmopolitan Film Festival of Tokyo Tokyo Japan February 11, 2022 Award Winner - Best Animated Short
New Wave Short Film Festival Munich Germany January 3, 2022 Award Winner - Best Animated Film
Continuum: Independant Animation From Japan & Australia Sydney Australia February 18, 2022 Selection
Roma Short Film Festival Rome Italy January 4, 2022 Award Winner - Best Director
Hsin-Yi Chidren's Animation Awards Taipei Taiwan January 8, 2022 Award Winner - Honourable Mention - Best Animated Short Film
New York Tri-State International Film Festival New York United States January 10, 2022 Award Winner - Best Original Score
New York Tri-State International Film Festival New York United States January 10, 2022 Award Winner - Best Trailer
Tokyo Shorts Tokyo Japan December 30, 2021 Award Winner - Best Producer
Tokyo Shorts tokyo Japan December 30, 2021 Award Winner - Best Production Design
Tokyo Shorts Tokyo Japan December 30, 2021 Award Winner - Best Sound Design
Tokyo International Short Film Festival Tokyo Japan February 5, 2022 Award Winner - MESSAGE OF HOPE AWARD
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Poster
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Trailer
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Trailer
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Sound Design
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Director
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Writer
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best International Short Film
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Concept
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Animated Short Film
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Producer
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Art Direction
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Original Score
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best Editor
Aiyan Film Awards Chennai India December 18, 2021 Award Winner - Best 3D Design
Venice Shorts Venice Beach United States February 11, 2022 Award Winner - Best Animated Film
SENSUS Film Festival St Petersburg Russian Federation March 10, 2022 Award Winner - Best Sound Design
SENSUS Film Festival St Petersburg Russian Federation March 10, 2022 Award Winner - Best Animated Film,
SENSUS Film Festival St Petersburg Russian Federation March 10, 2022 Award Winner - Best Original Score
Indo Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Singapore December 15, 2021 Singapore Award Winner - Best Editor
Indo Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Singapore December 15, 2021 Award Winner - Best Producer
Indo Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Singapore December 15, 2021 Award Winner - Best Animated Short Film
Indo Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Singapore December 15, 2021 Award Winner - Best Original Score
Indo Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Singapore December 15, 2021 Award Winner - Best International Short Film
Indo Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Singapore December 15, 2021 Award Winner - Best Trailer
Indo Singapore International Film Festival Singapore Singapore December 15, 2021 Award Winner - Best Poster
Chicago Indie Film Awards Chicago United States December 17, 2021 Award Winner - Best Animated Film
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Houston United States April 20, 2022 GOLD REMI AWARD Computer Generated / CGI / Mixed Media / 3D,
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Houston United States April 20, 2022 SPECIAL JURY AWARD Animated (Classic Cel Animation)
Japan Media and Arts Festival Tokyo Japan September 16, 2022 Official Selection
