Pillars of the Community: Wildlife Rescue


An animal carer with trust issues, her fed-up best friend, and a backpacker with zero animal experience join forces to rescue a baby wombat from a villainous wombat hoarder in rural Australia.

Three women. One stolen wombat. Zero qualifications for what comes next.

Themes: Heart, Humor, Social Commentary

Based on true stories.

  • Emily Caelli
    Director
  • Emily Caelli
    Writer
  • Emily Caelli
    Producer
    Site Unseen
  • Emily Caelli
    Key Cast
    "Billy "
  • Emma Monk
    Key Cast
    "Kirra "
  • Marie-Elle Vivaldi
    Key Cast
    "Amaya "
  • Megan Elizabeth
    Key Cast
    "Devlin "
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, mockumentry
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 22, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Australian Women's Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    September 16, 2025
    Australia
    Finalist: Comedic Film
Director Biography - Emily Caelli

Emily Caelli is an Australian actress, producer, and writer. She was recently selected for the competitive 'Platform' Filmlab (For-Films-Sake) at the Sydney Film Festival, where her team secured an executive producer during the live pitch. A recipient of the Regional Producers Elevator Program, Emily produced and starred in the upcoming horror feature Site Unseen and was a panelist at AACTA Festival 2025. Her short thriller When I Look Ahead earned her Best Lead Actress and Best International Actress nominations at the Austin Revolution Film Festival 2023. She champions bold, character-driven storytelling across film and screen.

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