Austinmer filmmaker's tale kickstarts actor's career

Sunnies is the brainchild of Austinmer filmmaker Izzy Kahn and was created for his major work in the directing program at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Recently screened at the 2023 First Nations film festival, Sunnies is a poignant narrative that delves into the complexities of life for a teenage delinquent facing significant challenges.

When directing the film, Izzy chose to set it in the area where he grew up – south-west Sydney. By shooting in familiar locations, such as the shops at Saint Andrews, and a house he spent a lot of time in as a kid, he wanted to authentically represent the area and provide opportunities for young actors in his hometown.

“I really wanted to create an opportunity to find a fresh face from the area I grew up in," Izzy said. "A kid that was talented but maybe the opportunities hadn’t been brought that way. I wanted to make sure that when I was casting and shooting the film, I created that opportunity.”

Since being cast in Sunnies, Malaki Williams, a student of Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, has had a growing acting career, performing in notable TV series such as Heartbreak High (2022).

The film has had a great response from audiences so far, with many viewers commending the its realistic portrayal and the successful performance by the young lead. Audience members who have witnessed teenagers in similar situations in their careers as social workers or educators have resonated with the film's believable representation of the challenges faced by the film’s protagonist, Malcolm.

Discussions between the Australian Tertiary of Media (Atom) and the production team have opened up the exciting possibility of the film becoming an educational resource.

It would serve as a powerful tool to shed light on an important message conveyed by Izzy, who said: “Kids aren’t bad. There are other stuff going on in their lives that are affecting their behaviour.”

As the film progresses, audiences are taken behind the scenes to witness this, with Malcolm’s life and struggles revealed so that his delinquent actions start to make a bit more sense.

You can watch the trailer here and keep your eyes peeled as the full film will be available for streaming online by the end of the year.

To read more from local filmmakers making groundbreaking films, check out our discussion with Kelly Nicholson, a 29-year old filmmaker from Wollongong, whose company Atomic Darlings is breaking gender stereotypes.