Yardbird

Yardbird is an Australian supernatural horror short film that centres on a young girl living in a remote wrecking yard, who takes on local bullies when they travel out to torment her father.

Yardbird was shot on Kodak 35mm film in the regional Victorian towns of Talbot and Clunes and involved complex production design and on-set special effects. Initially privately funded to the stage of an offline assembly edit, the project later secured a $40,000 post-production completion grant from Screen Australia. The post-production process, which included photoreal visual effects work, took two years to complete.

Recognised as an Academy Accredited short film, Yardbird debuted in Official Competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or. It went on to screen at other major festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival (winning the Jury Prize), Flickerfest Film Festival (awarded Best Australian Short Film), and the Sydney Film Festival (receiving the Dendy Award for Best Australian Short Film).

The film's key creatives include writer and executive producer Julius Avery, director Michael Spiccia, producer Jessica Mitchell, executive producer Matt Long, cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, editor Jack Hutchings, production designer Joe Kiely, costume designer Polly Smyth, hair & makeup designer Mia Kate Russell, special effects supervisor Paul Norton, sound designer William Ward, composer Elliott Wheeler, actress Mitzi Ruhlmann (12-years old at the time of filming) and visual effects by multiple contributors led by Sydney based Fin Design + Effects. The global success of Yardbird positively contributed to the ongoing careers of these filmmakers, whom continue to work at high levels in their respective fields.