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Hunting Unicorns

A recent university graduate named Jimmy, armed with little more than naive conviction and a camera, plunges into the jungles of Vietnam to track down the elusive saola, otherwise known as the Asian unicorn.

As Jimmy wanders deeper, the wilderness mirrors his own uncharted journey into filmmaking and self-discovery. Confronted by the harsh realities of nature and his lack of expertise, his mission becomes a poignant exploration of human audacity and the temptation of certainty in an ambiguous world.

'Hunting Unicorns' aims to capture the essence of a man wrestling with his arrogance and the universal search for that which remains just beyond our grasp.

  • Jimmy Bernasconi
    Director
  • Jimmy Bernasconi
    Writer
  • Jimmy Bernasconi
    Producer
  • Jimmy Bernasconi
    Key Cast
    "Jimmy"
  • Jimmy Bernasconi
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 28 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 17, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Vietnam
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Jimmy Bernasconi

Jimmy Bernasconi is an emerging filmmaker with a background in radio broadcasting. He is the creator and host of 'Films for Today' on 2XXFM and has anchored and appeared on various other radio programs and podcasts for almost a decade. This includes his tenure as the regular host on 'Sacred Cinema' (2XXFM) from 2021 to 2024 and co-host on 'The Multiplex' (ABC Radio Canberra) from 2020 to 2023.

Jimmy's transition from broadcaster to director is marked by his debut feature, 'Hunting Unicorns', a project inspired by the existential contradictions he and many of his peers confronted upon graduating from university. In making this film, Jimmy has embarked on a new journey into the visual medium, demonstrating his commitment to contributing uniquely and meaningfully to the cinematic sphere.

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Director Statement

"Hunting Unicorns" is more than just my debut feature; it is a personal and philosophical expedition into the heart of human naivety, arrogance, and the relentless search for the absolute. Seeking to comfort and encourage those equally torn between ambition and nihilism, the film is an intimate reflection on the quest for a path forward amidst a world devoid of clear direction.

My background in radio broadcasting and my engagement with my listeners have ingrained in me a deep belief in the transformative power of film. Cinema, I believe, transcends the limitations of language, articulating complex emotional states and existential obstacles that resist clear explanation. In an age where certainty seems abundant, "Hunting Unicorns" seeks to illuminate the contradictions of contemporary life, offering a lens through which we might edge closer to fully understanding the world.

The film's narrative, following a young graduate's quixotic journey to find the elusive saola in the Vietnamese jungle, serves as a metamodern metaphor for both artistic and existential challenges. This story is a manifestation of my belief that cinema can and should confront the profound, often paradoxical ideas that currently define our reality. With "Hunting Unicorns," I aim to embrace and, hopefully, inspire those stifled by these contradictions. It is a call to accept the journey, with all its uncertainties and inconvenient potentials, in the pursuit of something enlightening.