Meet the Young Female Director Who Borrowed Her Step-Dad's Camera and Is Now a Trop Jr Finalist

Annabelle's short film, Iris, is one of the finalists for this year's Trop Jr.

Making your own movie sounds like tough work. In fact, if most students were asked to write, shoot and edit their own short film, many would be dumbfounded on where to start. 

But Annabelle Richens, a 15-year-old girl from country NSW, has found herself as a finalist in this year's Trop Jr, an offshoot of Tropfest, the world's largest short film festival, and designed to give a platform to young filmmakers aged 15 and under.

Despite her young age, her submission, Iris, isn't Annabelle's first film.

Her world really opened up after she borrowed her step-dad’s DSLR camera in Year Eight.

"I started off with photography, but by no means am I a photographer at all," Annabelle jokes.

"I started to muck around with it."

She started filming clips with a big group of friends during weekend hangouts and, finally, made her first short film on Apple's iMovie in Year Eight.

"I think it would be of questionable quality," Annabelle laughs. Still, after she had her first taste of filmmaking, she was inspired to do better.

Fast forward to 2018, three short films later, and Iris, her fourth and most recent production, is a finalist for Trop Jr.

Iris sees the story of a young girl, who identifies as gay, growing up in a conservative religious community; a topical theme in Australia’s political climate.

Most interestingly, it's centred around the colours of the LGBTIQ+ flag.

In respect to Gilbert Baker.

The original rainbow flag for our community.

Such a beautiful act towards inclusion.#LGBT #GilbertBaker pic.twitter.com/ZXgLqAE9gy

— Richard Harris (@cigarboyrick82) April 1, 2017

"I knew straight away from 'rainbow' [2018’s Trop Fest theme] that I wanted to represent the rainbow metaphorically," Annabelle explains.

"Not so much in an obvious or physical sense."

She remembers Googling the Pride flag and finding out what all the colours symbolised, realising it would be a great way to structure the film.

"I had that kind of framework which I could write a story around," Annabelle says.

"Being teenagers, that was the story I wanted to—and I could—easily tell."

But with the high price of quality film equipment and editing software being a huge barrier for young filmmakers, Annabelle had a plan in place to counteract it.

She borrowed her step-dad's camera again (a Canon EOS 7D), an umbrella light and some free editing software she installed on her laptop. With the basics in order, she was ready to go.

"I was lucky that the idea didn't really need that much crazy equipment," Annabelle explains.

"I was able to put it together with what I had at my disposal.

While originally from the country, she's since moved to a school in Sydney, which has all the resources to help her out with her future projects. 

"I've joined the film club," Annabelle says.

"I'm grabbing every film-related opportunity that I can."

"I finish one idea and I just want to start the next—I always want to be making stuff."

You can catch Annabelle's film and the other finalists at Trop Jr. at Event Cinemas in Parramatta Saturday 17 February.

Photo: Supplied