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Granite Highway

Set in a forgotten Western QLD town, Alice, a lonely motel receptionist has a strange encounter with a guest amidst the disappearance of a young woman.

  • Rhys Ellis
    Director
    The Baga
  • Rhys Ellis
    Writer
    The Baga
  • Bradley Vickery
    Producer
  • Mieka Thorogood
    Producer
    Gertrude
  • Rhys Ellis
    Producer
  • Tori Webb
    Key Cast
    "Alice"
    The Portable Door, Young Rock, Perfect Messy Holiday, Stiffs
  • Joel Drabble
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
    Nautilus, Elvis, Danger Close, Chasing Lemons
  • Roy Billing
    Key Cast
    "Officer Terry"
    Jack Irish, Underbelly, Austin, Nude Tuesday, The Dish, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Blue Heelers, Charlie & Boots, Mystery Road,
  • Maria Harrison
    Key Cast
    "Madeline"
  • Danien Berends
    Cinematographer
  • Demetry Malahoff
    Composer
  • Adam Potts
    1st AC
  • Sam Fairbank
    2nd AC
  • Alex Purcell
    Gaffer
  • Michael Monaco
    Sound Designer
  • Danien Berends
    Colourist
  • Nicholas Dunn
    Compositor / Designer
  • River Weepers
    BTS
  • Harry Hertrick
    BTS
  • Holly Elizabeth Emma Floyd
    Costume Designer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Mystery, Outback Noir
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 30, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:66:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rhys Ellis

Rhys Ellis is a Director based in Brisbane, Australia. His award-winning work is recognised for its distinctive storytelling and focus on real-world characters.

Rhys is known for crafting striking cinematic imagery, while drawing out authentic and emotionally resonant performances at the heart of his stories. Having worked as a photographer before moving to film, his work combines a strong technical eye with a contemporary aesthetic that he is consistently evolving.

In his narrative projects, Rhys often explores themes of identity and place, informed by his own mixed-race background, his films aim to understand the world around us. With a career that includes shooting the indie feature film The Baga (2022) and recently his short film Granite Highway (2024), Rhys’s films have earned him multiple accolades across international film festivals.

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Director Statement

With this film, I set out to explore themes of isolation and longing—particularly in these vast, rural Australian towns where connection can feel out of reach. These places, though seemingly quiet, carry a profound emotional weight, and I wanted to delve into that sense of loneliness that lingers beneath the surface.

The landscape itself was vital to this story, functioning almost like a second character. The stone formations and towering mountain ranges of the Granite Belt act as both a sanctuary and a force that shapes the lives of those within it.

Whilst the themes of the film are grounded in reality, I wanted to show 90's rural Australia in a dreamy way that feels more like someone's memory of a time and place rather than fact.

Ultimately, this film is my ode to a Queensland that isn’t often seen on screen, to the hidden desires people carry, and to the landscapes that hold their stories.