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The Highlighter Games

What are you willing to do for some pastel highlighters? Well, when you're young, dumb and excitable...pastel highlighters can change your life, so you'll do anything to get them, right?

  • Karina Topolovec
    Director
  • Karina Topolovec
    Writer
  • Lachlan Burgess
    Producer
  • Ashleigh-Rose Nicholson
    Key Cast
    "Ella"
  • Shyla Farrugia
    Key Cast
    "Myffy"
  • Giselle Mammone
    Key Cast
    "Crystal"
  • Jessica Hieser
    Key Cast
    "Caren"
  • Karina Topolovec
    Key Cast
    "Cashier"
  • Leo Ma
    Sound Designer
  • Thomas Croce
    Production Designer
  • Kayla Valkanis
    Cinematographer
  • Samantha Joewono
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Whimsical, Drama, Coming of age
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 11, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red 4k Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Visionaire
    St Kilda
    Australia
    November 1, 2019
    Melbourne Premiere
    Won: Best Achievement in Editing
  • Changing Face International Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    Semi-Finalist
  • The First-Time Filmmaker Showcase

    Official Selection
Director Biography - Karina Topolovec

Karina Topolovec is an actor, director and yoga-doing student, who after graduating high school thought it best to discover what goes on behind the camera. While completing her degree in film and television at Deakin University, she undertook a year of fulltime training in Music Theatre at Showfit in East Brunswick, Melbourne. Her directing and writing credits include Two or Three Things I Know, Bath Meditation and A Little Better (the Musical) and now as the final major film The Highlighter Games which was inspired by Karina’s own purchase of some enchanting pastel highlighters. Once graduating Karina hopes to get hired, make some art, and do some good along the way.

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Director Statement

The Highlighter Games is a film about Highlighters, HA. who would’ve thought… specifically, pastel highlighters. Ella knows that if she gets them, she’ll be the coolest girl in high-school, and her loser days will be far behind her. But when she is met with her primary school bully, Crystal, who has the last packet of pastel beauties, what will Ella do to ensure her future of high school celebrity?

The Highlighter Games is a whimsical short film about the joys of being naïve, dumb and excitable in the cherished days of youth and stationary shopping.