Geelong filmmaker up for AACTA award

Public voting will help to whittle the list of about 100 film award contenders down to a shortlist of just six award nominees. Photos: SUPPLIED

A short film written by Geelong actor Cassidy Krygger has been named a contender in the 2025 AACTA Awards, Australia’s most prestigious film and television awards.

Filmed at the Barwon Park Mansion in November last year, Daisy has already earned a swag of national and international accolades, including Best International Short Film at the Golden Lion Film Festival, Best Biographical Short Film at the Cannes World Film Festival and Best Australian Short Film at the Melbourne International Cineverse Film Festival.

The film, which follows the true story of Krygger’s Catholic great-grandmother Daisy after she falls pregnant out of wedlock with her Protestant lover, is now up against just over 100 of the country’s finest live action and animated short films at the AACTAs, Australia’s equivalent of the Oscars.

“It’s such a personal story for me and my family and it’s so incredibly humbling that people are enjoying it,” Krygger said.

“Even though it is a tale that’s 100 years old, it’s still a very human story that we can all relate to, even today.”

To help whittle the list of AACTA award contenders down to a shortlist of just six short film award nominees, voting will remain open to all AACTA members until 5pm on Monday, August 19.

Cassidy Krygger stars in the titular role of Daisy in the short film about her great-grandparents.

Krygger encouraged the region’s AACTA members to throw their support behind Geelong filmmaking and cast a vote for Daisy, and urged those who were not members to help spread the word to the AACTA members who might be in their networks.

“For us to get an actor nomination, it’s not just for Daisy, it’s for Geelong as well,” she said.

“[Geelong has] so much incredible talent and to bring a spotlight out here…is incredible.”

On a personal level for Krygger, who has been open about her battle with multiple sclerosis, an award nomination would “mean the world”.

“It’s a testament to show that if you don’t give up, dreams really do come true,” she said.

“[An award nomination] would feel like all this hard work – 20 years of working and struggling and fighting, not only fighting in the industry, but fighting with my own health battles – it would literally feel like I’ve made it.

“It’d be the nicest pay off.”

To view and vote for Daisy, head to tv.aacta.org/collection/aacta-award-for-best-short-film/