The Wilding


The Wilding is a 2012 Australian gay drama film written and directed by Grant Scicluna and funded through Springboard, an initiative of Screen Australia. The film stars Reef Ireland, Shannon Glowacki, Luke Mullins and Frank Sweet and had its world premiere in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival on 9 February 2012 and was nominated for the Teddy Award.
The film competed at number of film festivals including Sydney Film Festival, Show Me Shorts, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival and St Kilda Film Festival and earned good reviews before winning the prestigious Iris Prize in 2012.

Premise

Malcolm, a hardened borstal inmate, is in love with his cellmate Tye. As Malcolm faces an opportunity for parole, a feud with other inmates escalates, with Tye being targeted as Malcolm's weak spot. Malcolm is forced to choose between his own freedom and protecting the one he loves.

Cast

Critical response

The film received mainly positive reviews with Adrian Naik of big gay picture show praising Scicluna's direction and said "This is raw Australian filmmaking at its best. Combining the visceral brutality of Romper Stomper and the gritty terror of Chopper, The Wilding holds its own against films of this caliber, while still shocking those numb to their effects."

Accolades


YearFestivalAwardRecipientResult
2012Iris PrizeThe Iris Prize for Best Short FilmGrant Scicluna
2012Madrid Lesbian, Gay and Transsexual Film FestivalBest Short FilmGrant Scicluna
2012St Kilda Film FestivalSBS Television AwardGrant Scicluna
2012Melbourne Queer Film FestivalWinner City of Melbourne Emerging FilmmakerGrant Scicluna
2012Melbourne Queer Film FestivalBest Australian Short FilmGrant Scicluna
2012Australian Screen EditorsBest Editing in a Short FilmAnthony Cox
2012Show Me ShortsBest International Short FilmGrant Scicluna & Jannine Barnes
2012Australian Writers GuildBest Short FilmGrant Scicluna
2012Berlin International Film FestivalTeddy AwardGrant Scicluna
2012Berlin International Film FestivalCrystal BearGrant Scicluna
2012Sydney Film FestivalBest Australian Short FilmGrant Scicluna
2013Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film FestivalQueer Perspective AwardGrant Scicluna & Jannine Barnes

Filming locations

The film was shot in Sunbury in Australia and its surrounding suburbs.

Feature film

In 2014 Screen Australia and Film Victoria announced investment in a feature film based on the short film, titled Downriver and will feature Ireland in the lead role.