A family living in the shadow of a space elevator struggles to survive in a dystopian future.
“This is science-fiction at its best.”
— Rob Munday (Critic: Short-of-the-Week)
“When we first saw Stuart Willis’ short film Payload earlier this year, we were blown away. It’s a fully-realized tale of tough frontier life.”
– Annalee Newitz (Editor: i09)
“A beautiful expression of desperation, and the lengths to which one might go for freedom.”
— Michelle Star (Writer: CNet Crave)
“Payload sets relatable characters in a believable future to deliver a compelling story about hard choices and sacrifice.”
– Marbelle (Editor: Director’s Notes)
“This is probably the best short film I’ve seen featured [on] AICN”
– LV426, (Ain’t It Cool News Saturday Shorts)
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
Best Short Film – Nominated : Cinely Awards, 2013
Best Live Action – Nominated : Short of the Week Awards, 2013
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy : FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival, 2011
Best Short Film : Renderyard Film Festival, 2011
Bronze Medal : Australian Cinematographers Society (NSW), 2011
Best Director (Short Film) – Nominated : Melbourne Underground Film Festival, 2011
Best Actress (Short Film) – Nominated : Melbourne Underground Film Festival, 2011
Best Supporting Actress (Short Film) – Nominated: Maverick Movie Awards, 2012
Best Visual Effects (Short Film) – Nominated: Maverick Movie Awards, 2012
Finalist, The Great Film Competition : Short Of The Week, 2011
Most Outstanding Post-Graduate Student : Victorian College of the Arts, 2010
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS & SCREENINGS
Palm Springs ShortsFest, 2011 (World Premiere)
Melbourne Underground Film Festival, 2011: One of the Festival Director’s highlights of MUFF12
The 2011 Space Elevator Conference
Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival, 2011
Thriller Chiller Film Festival, 2011
TriCity Fantasy Film Festival, 2011
FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival, 2011
OffShoot Film Festival, 2011
Renderyard Film Festival, 2011
Space Trash, 2012
Dam Short Film Festival, 2012
Newport Beach Film Festival, 2012
Fantastic Planet Sydney Sci-Fi Film Festival, 2012
Hill Country Film Festival, 2012
Mini-Con 47, 2012
Shorts Film Festival, Adelaide, 2012
Revelation Perth International Film Festival, 2012
Hollywood Shorts, 2012
International Broadcaster’s Conference, Amsterdam, 2012
Filmbooth International Short Film Festival, New Delhi, 2012