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ABOUT
ABOUT
2025
18-25 JUNE
On the Hill
(Pollyanna Harrison, 2025)
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
As director, my aim for On The Hill was to how gang violence can endanger not just those involved, but their loved ones who are caught in the crossfire. We wanted viewers to inhabit Atteli’s half-dream, half-waking dread, questioning whether they are experiencing a dream, a prophecy, paranoid delusion, or a truly real situation. We carved that tension into every frame, especially through colour grading, which shifts from a sunset-esque sepia in nightmare sequences to bruised greys in reality. As director, working closely with the actors on such emotionally intense material was a personal highlight; Victoria Nyoni’s performance brought a visceral honesty that shaped our entire visual approach. It was such a privilege to work with such a talented cast and crew. Thank you – Pollyanna Harrison
This film is produced as part of short film prodcution module.
SYNOPSIS
On The Hill is an exploration of the psychological and emotional turmoil that Atteli experiences, provoked by her foster brother’s involvement with gang-related activity. As Atteli awakens from her paranoid nightmares of being on The Hill, where she is repeatedly attacked by a dark figure, her real world seems to be similarly impacted by her brother’s association with gang violence. After an explosive fight, the siblings settle their differences and Caleb, the brother, agrees to not put himself or his family in danger again. When Atteli next returns to The Hill, ambiguous whether this is a dream or reality, she is once again attacked with her brother saving her, tragically being stabbed in the altercation. The short film ends with Atteli waking up, employing an ambiguity of whether this truly was a dream or reality, encouraging audiences to question what is and is not real.
CAST
CREW
@onthehillfilm
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