SYNOPSIS

Director｜Julie Kalceff

Screenwriter｜Julie Kalceff

Cast｜Evie Macdonald, Joanne Hunt, Anthony Brandon Wong

Producer｜Libbie Doherty, Kirsty Stark

Cinematographer｜Velinda Wardell

Genre｜Short, Drama

Length｜18min

Year｜2017

Dialogue｜English

Subtitles｜English

Region｜Australia

Production Company｜Epic Films

Synopsis

First Day, tells a story about the fears associated with the transition between primary school and high school – but in Hannah’s case, the stakes are even higher: this year, she will be attending school for the first time as a girl.

Director Biography

Julie Kalceff is an award-winning Australian writer, director, and producer best known for writing, directing and co-producing the television series First Day (2020). This ground-breaking story of a 12 year-old transgender girl starting middle school was the first Australian series to star a transgender actor in the lead role. It has sold to multiple territories worldwide including HULU (US) and CBBC (UK). In April 2021, the series won a GLAAD Media Award (Children and Youth) which honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBTQIA+ community and the issues that affect their lives.

In 2020, First Day was nominated for two AACTA Awards (Australian Academy Awards) for Best Children’s Program and for Best Screenplay in Television. That same year, the series won its category at the 59th Rose d’Or Awards which are voted on by over 80 international judges. Also in 2020, Julie was announced as part of a “powerhouse female directing team” that is spearheading the anthology drama feature Here Out West (2021).

Julie first gained international attention when she created, wrote, directed, and produced the global hit digital drama series Starting From… Now (2014). Attracting critical and popular acclaim, it is one of the most watched web series in the world – amassing over 170 million views in 230 countries. The series also sold to and played on broadcast television in Australia. Julie was the sole writer and director on all 30 episodes of the series and was a producer on all five seasons.

In 2018, Julie was selected to participate in Screen Australia’s Talent USA Program that introduces the best emerging Australian talent to the international market.

A graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School with a Masters Degree in Scriptwriting, Julie founded and is director of the Sydney-based production company Common Language Films. Julie specializes in utilizing humor to tell dramatic, character-driven, female-centric stories that appeal to a wide audience. She is passionate about authentic representation and inclusion, both on screen and behind the camera. Julie’s work explores themes such as identity, belonging, community, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Director’s Statement

As a proud member of the LGBTQI community, I’m passionate about diversity of representation on screen. With First Day I not only want to increase visibility of the LGBTQI community but to tell an uplifting story of empowerment about a transgender teenager. My hope is that this will increase understanding and acceptance amongst the target audience and the wider community, and help give a voice to those who, like myself, struggle as a direct result of not seeing themself represented on screen.

I have a personal connection to the subject matter and know a number of transgender people and parents of transgender children. However, I acknowledge that I am not transgender and, in many regards, this isn’t my story to tell. It was extremely important, therefore, to me, producer Kirsty Stark, the ABC and Screen Australia, to cast a transgender girl in the lead role. We were incredibly fortunate to be able to cast the talented Evie Macdonald as Hannah. Although scripted, this is Evie’s story and it’s our job to ensure that she has the tools and support she needs to tell it. The courage, maturity and sheer natural ability and talent Evie has shown throughout this process – a 12 year-old girl who has never acted before and who is in every scene – is inspirational.

As a filmmaker I have a voice and I believe it’s my responsibility to use it to tell stories that matter and that have the potential to positively impact on people’s lives.

Julie Kalceff