Sunflower

Director: Gabriel Carrubba, 83 min, Australia

In the outer suburbs of Melbourne, seventeen-year-old Leo (Liam Mollica) leads a seemingly typical life. Amidst hanging out with friends, bickering with his Italian family at the dinner table, going to school, and making out with his girlfriend Monique (Olivia Fildes), Leo guards a secret he’s afraid to confront—a hidden truth buried deep within. As Leo grapples with his inner turmoil, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to his best friend Boof (Luke J. Morgan) and a quiet introverted boy at school named Tom (Daniel Halmarick). His newfound feelings force Leo to confront his true desires and come to terms with his identity, shattering his once stable world. Faced with the fear of rejection from those closest to him, Leo navigates the uncertain waters of acceptance and love.