The Gallant Captain
A boy and his cat journey into unknown waters with a little bottle, a boat and a vivid imagination.
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Katrina MathersDirectorNullarbor
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Graeme BaseDirector
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Katrina MathersProducerNullarbor
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Merrin JensenProducerNullarbor
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Daryl MuntonProducerNullarbor
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Patrick SarellProducerNullarbor
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Toby PearceKey Cast
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Graeme BaseWriter
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Project Type:Animation, Short
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Runtime:8 minutes 8 seconds
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Completion Date:August 1, 2013
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Production Budget:165,000 AUD
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Country of Origin:Australia
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Country of Filming:Australia
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Aspen ShortsfestColorado
United States
April 8, 2014
Best Short Short -
St Kilda Film FestivalMelbourne
Australia
May 31, 2014
Best Animation -
Omaha Film Festival
United States
March 9, 2014
Best Animated Short Film -
Anima Mundi International Film FestivalBrazil
August 6, 2014 -
Athens International Film and Video FestivalOhio, USA
April 11, 2014 -
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film FestivalFrance
January 31, 2014
International Premiere -
Cleveland International Film FestivalUSA
March 19, 2014 -
Fantoche 2014Baden, Switzerland
September 2, 2014 -
London International Animation FestivalLondon, UK
October 25, 2014 -
Adelaide Film FestivalSouth Australia
Australia
October 10, 2013
World Premiere
Most Popular Short Film -
Flickerfest Film FestivalSydney
Australia
January 10, 2014 -
Byron Bay International Film FestivalNSW
Australia
February 28, 2014 -
Holland Animation Festival
Netherlands
March 19, 2014 -
Little Big Shots International Festival for KidsMelbourne
Australia
May 31, 2014
Best Adult Made Film
Distribution Information
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Shorts InternationalCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
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ATOMCountry: AustraliaRights: All Rights, Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Theatrical, Video / Disc, Free TV, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
Katrina Mathers co-founded Melbourne animation studio The Lampshade Collective, producing the multi-award winning short animations 'Nullarbor' and ‘The Gallant Captain’ (directed with Graeme Base). She has made many award-winning shorts, both live action and animation and she’s worked for many years as a filmmaker and actor. Graeme Base is the renowned writer/illustrator of bestselling children's books including ‘Animalia’ and ‘The Eleventh Hour’. With over thirty publishing awards, sales of his books are approaching six million. ‘The Gallant Captain’ marks Graeme’s debut as a director.
THE GALLANT CAPTAIN is about a little boy facing up to one of life's big challenges - dealing with the loss of a loved one, in Will's case his father, a sailor lost at sea.
Will sets on an imaginary journey to retrace his father's last voyage, taking with him his beloved Cat as first mate and a precious talisman; a ship-in-a-bottle that his father made.
Storm clouds soon gather and a vast, brooding pirate ship appears - the embodiment of Will's grief. Initially daunted, our brave lad rises to the challenge and sends the pirate ship to the bottom - victory! - but a bigger test lies in store. Back in the real world his little boat is sinking...
As he labours vainly to bail out the boat, his father's bottle-ship slips out of his pocket, over the side of the dingy and begins to float away. He reaches out, desperate not to lose it, but Cat is meowing pitifully as the dingy begins to go down - she is terrified. Will must make a decision. He lets the bottle-ship go and sets about saving Cat, every bit the Gallant Captain.
It turns out the water is only knee-deep (the reality of one's fears often turns out to be manageable despite perceived hopelessness) and Will and Cat both end up back on the pier, bedraggled and a little crestfallen though unquestionably relived to be together and alive.
But something has changed. Will, in his moment of trial, has chosen to let go of the past and deal with the present. Now, as he and Cat look out from the end of the pier, taking in their bittersweet adventure, we see the bottle-ship bobbing away into the sunset. As Will watches, the bottle dissolves, and the fond memory of his father sails off into a golden past, leaving Will free to look to the future.