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The Mirror

Australian Academy Cinema Television & Arts (AACTA) WINNER for Best Short Film

When a young girl discovers a mysterious antique mirror in the basement of her ailing grandmother’s house, she accidentally opens a window between time that allows her to cross over into war-torn Nazi-occupied Poland.

With wonderful performances from two remarkable newcomers - Ingrid Torelli (Suzi) and Amelia Westlake (Young Hilda).

  • Joel Kohn
    Director
    Rehab, Dinner for Three
  • Joel Kohn
    Writer
    Rehab, Dinner for Three
  • Mike Horvath
    Producer
    Breath
  • Tom Davies
    Producer
    Dinner for Three
  • Joel Kohn
    Producer
    Rehab, Dinner for Three
  • Matt Day
    Key Cast
    "Paul"
    Shackleton, Muriel's Wedding
  • Ingrid Torelli
    Key Cast
    "Suzi"
  • Amelia Westlake
    Key Cast
    "Hilda"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, Drama, Family
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 16, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Jewish International Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
    October 26, 2019
    Cast & Crew Screening
  • River's Edge International Film Festival
    Kentucky
    United States
    November 10, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Prague International Indie Film Festival
    Prague
    Czech Republic
    September 30, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Gold Coast International Film Festival
    Long Island
    United States
    October 20, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Swindon International Film Festival
    Swindon
    United Kingdom
    July 7, 2020
    UK Premiere
    Winner - Best Costume Design & Best Post Production
  • Rosarito International Short Film Festival

    Mexico
    August 4, 2020
    Mexico Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Rhode's Flicker International Film Festival
    Providence
    United States
    September 9, 2020
    NO SCREENING
    SEMI-FINALIST
  • AFIN International Short Film Festival
    Brisbane
    Australia
    November 9, 2020
    Queensland Premiere
    Finalist. Nominated for Best Short Film
  • Bucharest Shortcut Cinefest
    Bucharest
    Romania
    August 27, 2020
    Romanian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Cyrus International Film Festival of Toronto
    Toronto
    Canada
    September 15, 2020
    Canada Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Hobnobben Film Festival
    Fort Wayne, Indiana
    United States
    October 23, 2020
    Indiana
    Official Selection
  • MOSFilmFest
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    September 16, 2020
    Russia
    Official Selection
  • Chicago International Children's Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    November 13, 2020
    Illinois
    Official Selection
  • YES Film Festival
    Columbus
    United States
    October 23, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Arlington International Film Festival
    Arlington
    United States
    November 15, 2020
    Massachusetts Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Jacksonville Film Festival
    Jacksonville
    United States
    February 11, 2021
    Official Selection
  • St Louis International Film Festival
    St Louis, MO
    United States
    November 5, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Eastern Europe International Film Festival - Warsaw
    Warsaw
    Poland
    December 5, 2020
    Official Selection
  • LA LIVE FILM FEST
    Los Angeles
    United States
    December 1, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Amarcort Film Festival

    Italy
    December 5, 2020
    Italian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Muestra Intergaláctica

    Mexico
    December 1, 2020
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • Apparition Entertainment
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
  • Double Exposure Distribution
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: Theatrical
Director Biography - Joel Kohn

Joel is a writer/director/producer with over 15 years experience.

He completed a Masters of Communication degree from RMIT (graduating with honours), and also has extensive industry training, such as a directors attachment with Anthony MInghella on his Civil War film ‘Cold Mountain’. He just spent 6-weeks in Tasmania for a Film Victoria director’s placement with Greg Mclean on the STAN/ABC-Disney series, ‘The Gloaming’.

Alongside his directing credits in TV, Joel has made a host of award winning short films that have screened both locally and internationally. His latest short script for The Mirror won the Jewish International Film Festival - short film fund. It was also a finalist in the Screen Craft Film Fund, and the Academy qualifying Holly Shorts Film Festival.

In 2017, Joel was selected for the SPA ‘ones to watch program’ and won the emerging producer SBS first-look award. He has his own production outfit, Screen Invaders, and is currently developing a slate of exciting, high-end projects.

Joel is also creative director at SHERPA Projects, a leading digital content studio. As part of his role, he has helped to create and direct campaigns for premium brands like Johnnie Walker, Samsonite and Luxury Escapes.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film has been over five years in the making. It was inspired by my grandparents, both of whom were survivors of the Holocoust and through the process of writing this script, and trying to tell a story that connected to their experience, became a bit of a cinematic letter to them. I’d also never met my Grandmother, as she passed away quite young. Perhaps that sense of mystery - of understanding who she was, found its way into the crux of this film and is why one of the main characters at the centre of the films mystery is named Hilda, after my grandmother.

The Mirror explores themes around tolerance and anti semitism, understanding your heritage, and the importance of new generations learning from the past. It’s a film that may look back in time, but unfortunately a lot of the issues it delves into are still very relevant in today’s climate, and is the reason why we felt this film was important to make. Furthermore, it touches on the idea that when we’re younger, we really don’t know how to hate. That’s something we are taught and develop as we get older, and we see that purity - that childhood experience of another person where it’s not important if they’re another colour or religion, as something celebrating.

Thank you for considering the project. We hope you enjoy watching The Mirror as much as we enjoyed making it.