HOUSES,
2026 | Short film | DISTRIBUTION
MOUSES
Layered, poetic, heart-breaking.
Al is a non-binary and estranged from their parents. Their only loved one in this life is their late sister Sasha Desmond, who sadly passes away in a car crash one year ago. Since that day, the home they both lovingly built as a refuge lies stalled in time, infested with rats, and is now threatened to be usurped by their vile and greedy parents. Meanwhile, Tess - the lawyer appointed to the case by the Family Court of Australia - has one day to mediate this legal battle and make an irreversible choice.
'Houses, Mouses' is an eerily honest portrayal of the complex interaction of loss of family, death, queerness, and the dichotomy of empirical reasoning versus crude logic. The story has semi-autobiographical roots, exploring the negative altercations of authenticity and bravado in queer narratives, and the necessity of pain.
CREW
Produced by Adviteeya Khujneri, Isabelle Bray, and Tiger Olsson
Written and Directed by Adviteeya Khujneri
Director of Photography Victor Xi
Production Design by Claire Luther and Tara Eshraghi
Edited by Adviteeya Khujneri, Isabelle Bray, and Victor Xi
Assistant Director Isabelle Bray
Sound by Tiger Olsson
Assistant Camera Hugo Morris
Boom Operator Daniel Allen
Location Manager Rodney White
Production Assistant Luke Dunning
CAST
Tess Mullins Kate Stewart
Mrs. Desmond David Vicki
Mr. Desmond David Luke
Al Desmond Emma Johnston
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Waterloo Studios
The Garden, Berry
in order of appearance
a sneaky peak into on-set
BTS and
REHEARSALS
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
We're in post-production! YES! That's right.
This is an accomplishment in itself because it has been a long time coming considering the project was shot in October 2022. That's a massive gap. But in that period, we have really persevered to finish telling this story in its most powerful and authentic form. We all ventured into this with sticks and stones, not realizing how deep and complex a story we were telling, just how beautiful.
While we keep piecing it together, experimenting and liasing through different cuts, soundtracking, marketing galore, what we're on the look for is a dedicated Film Composer, Colour Grader and Sound Designer.
We're so open to funding, collaborating, and teaming up with existing post-production facilities to get this across, to see it on big screens and to share this story with you and others.
Built by Adviteeya Khujneri.
