Private Project

Perfect Boy Next Door

Kevin is a male sex worker who has survived a vicious attack by a client whose kinks went way above the pay grade. In the following months as Kevin recuperates and works through the trauma with his boyfriend Jacob, he is approached by a true crime TV show that wants to tell his story. Is this his moment to shine? His chance at stardom and the big bucks? Or is it really something much darker?

  • Craig Boreham
    Director
    Lonesome, Teenage Kicks
  • Josh Lavery
    Writer
  • Craig Boreham
    Producer
    Lonesome
  • Dean Francis
    Producer
    Drown
  • Brodie Pyke
    Producer
  • Josh Lavery
    Key Cast
    "Kevin"
    Lonesome
  • Manuel Kornisiuk
    Key Cast
    "Re-enactment Kevin"
    Drag Race Allstars, The Winner Takes It All
  • Liz Lin
    Key Cast
    "Interviewer"
    Lonesome
  • Eddie O'Leary
    Key Cast
    "Jacob"
    Lonesome
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    black comedy, horror, LGBTQ, gay
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Shooting Format:
    Red
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • BFI Flare
    London
    United Kingdom
    March 22, 2025
    International Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Mardi Gras Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    February 28, 2024
    Australian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Adelaide Film Festival
    Adelaide
    Australia
    November 2, 2024
    South Australian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Chicago Horror Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    May 16, 2025
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Roze Filmdagen
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    March 23, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Dark Nights Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    October 12, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Soho Horror Pride
    London
    United Kingdom
    June 13, 2025
    Official Selection
  • FilmOut San Diego
    San Diego
    United States
    August 21, 2025
    West Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Craig Boreham

Craig Boreham, is an award winning Sydney based writer and director whose celebrated work explores themes of sexuality and the politics of desire. Boreham’s films have screened at over 200 international festivals; including the Berlin International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Cannes (Cinéma des Antipodes), Palm Springs, Frameline and Outfest. He has received numerous awards and nominations including the Berlinale Teddy Award for his debut short film TRANSIENT and four nominations for the Iris Prize. Other awards include Best Film at My Queer Career (DROWNING, OSTIA LA NOTTE FINALE), Mardi Gras Film Festival, The City of Melbourne Best Short Film Award, MQFF and National Film Sound Archive Orlando Award among others. In 2008 a retrospective of Craig’s work, CINEMA OF TRUE POISON was presented by Fundacion Triangulo in Madrid.

Craig’s debut feature film TEENAGE KICKS premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2016 to critical acclaim. The Guardian, named Boreham as “a strong new voice in Australian Queer cinema”, and the film ranked third place in the Sydney Film Festival Audience Awards. TEENAGE KICKS was nominated for Best Direction in a feature film at the Australian Directors Guild Awards, and for Best Feature at the Iris Prize Festival, where lead actor Miles Szanto won Best Male Performer. Other nominations include Best Original Score at the AACTA Awards.

Craig’s second feature film Lonesome premiered at the Sydney Film Festival and travelled to 50 film festivals including Seattle International Film Festival, Guadalajara International Film Festival, Frameline in San Francisco and Newfest in New York. Lonesome won Festival Favourite and Director’s Choice at the Cinema Diverse Festival in Palm Springs and was Nominated for Best Independent Film at the 2022 AACTA Awards and Best Indie Director at the Australian Directors Guild Awards. Craig is developing several new features including Refuge a true crime thriller and an adaptation of Peter Polites’ acclaimed novel Down the Hume with producer Annmaree J Bell. Craig recently made MTV’s list of hot Australian filmmakers to watch and TEENAGE KICKS was billed as one not to be missed by Empire Magazine. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Craig has also directed short films, music clips, and has mentored a number of upcoming Australian filmmakers.

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Director Statement

Perfect Boy Next Door is a short film that sits somewhere between black comedy and psychosexual horror and draws its tone from true crime murder-porn shows like Forensic Files and Unsolved Mysteries mashed with a contemporary narcissistic obsession with Insta-stardom and the need for celebrity at any cost.