ARACOURT

Tickets are now on sale 🎟️ If/When will be screening as part of the opening night, Australian Showcase at the Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF) 2026. Congratulations to all filmmakers involved! 🗓 Sunday May 17th 🕠 5:30pm 📍 Treasury Theatre 🎟️ Tickets: /miaf-2026-australian-showcase-official-opening Come along! Meet some incredible artists. Directed by: Courtney Westbrook @courtneywestbrookofficial Written by: Richie Black @richie_noir Full list: /if-when A film by ARACOURT studio @aracourtstudio A Knuckles Animation Production @knucklesanimation   If/When is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund @ausculturalfund #makeculturehappen @animationfest #miaf #ifwhen #ifwhenfilm

If/When is officially selected for Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF)! This marks our third Melbourne festival for Ollie and Az! 🧡💙 @animationfest We made If/When as a reflection on time and connection, and seeing it continue to resonate, especially in a place that values animation and storytelling so thoughtfully, means a great deal. Thank you, MIAF for making space for this film. Thank you to all who continue to support If/When! 🎞️✨ Directed by: Courtney Westbrook @courtneywestbrookofficial Written by: Richie Black @richie_noir Full list: /if-when A film by ARACOURT studio @aracourtstudio A Knuckles Animation Production @knucklesanimation   If/When is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund @ausculturalfund #makeculturehappen #ifwhenfilm #ifwhen #miaf

Closing Night ✨🏳️‍🌈 Courtney Westbrook (Director/Executive Producer) and Emma Vranges (Associate Producer) of If/When attended the Queer Screens Mardi Gras Film Festival Closing Night Gala and After Party at Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney. @courtneywestbrookofficial @emma_vranjes @queerscreen @queerhow @event_georgest We had the pleasure of watching the hilarious closing night film He’s The She and hearing producer Vic Brandt @notvicbrandt speak about the magic behind bringing this story to life. There’s something incredibly powerful about sitting in a cinema full of people who deeply care about queer storytelling and seeing that passion reflected on screen. 🎬💫 The After Party was just as special. A room filled with generous creatives and future collaborators! Grateful to be part of a festival that celebrates bold voices and authentic stories.✨ If you’re following the journey of If/When, stay connected for what’s next and reach out if you’d like to collaborate in the future, or support future projects. ✏️ Bag: @crochet_that_boutique 💚 #filmfestival #closingnight #film #queer #ifwhen

Tuesday night was one to remember. ✨ If/When screened as a Finalist in My Queer Career: Australian Shorts at the Queer Screens Mardi Gras Film Festival, and what an honour it was to be in that room. Congratulations to all of the winners on the night. Your films were outstanding, bold, and deeply moving. We are so grateful to have been considered alongside such powerful work. 🎬 While If/When didn’t take home an award this time, being named a Finalist in this category means so much to our team. Sharing the screen, celebrating each other’s stories, and reconnecting as a crew was a gift in itself. These festivals remind us why we create. Pictured: Director Courtney Westbrook @courtneywestbrookofficial with the Voice of Ollie, Tal Davida @taldaviida , and writer Richie Black @richie_noir . So proud of this team. 🤍 A huge thank you to the Queer Screens @queerscreen team for hosting such an incredible evening @queerhow , and congratulations to our If/When collaborators who also had additional films selected as finalists. The talent in this community is extraordinary. We made new connections, reconnected with old friends, and left feeling energised for what’s next. Professional photos to come soon. 📸✨ Which Australian short has stayed with you recently? Now we’re getting excited for Closing Night and the After Party tomorrow evening. Let us know if you’re attending. We’d love to say hello! 👋🏻 #shortfilms #ifwhen #ifwhenfilm #mardigras #film

Sydney, I’m here. ❤️🎬 My day one at Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival was full in the best way. @queerscreen The day was spent at The Red Rattler Theatre, first up with the Comedy Shorts screening. So many bold, generous stories. Congratulations to all the filmmakers involved 👏 @redrattlersydney Then a brilliant live commentary of Lesbian Space Princess, presented by Leela Varghese @leelavargoose and Emma Hough Hobbs @ehobbs , alongside moderator Nina Oyama @nina.oyama . Smart, funny, and such a joy to witness a room leaning into queer storytelling with confidence and humour.✨ @lesbianspaceprincessfilm I also caught up with Chris and Susie from Knuckles Animation representing our If/When team! @knucklesanimation @soozanimations The day wrapped with an incredibly insightful industry panel moderated by Andrew Wilke @queerhow . Producers Vic Brandt (closing night film She’s the He) @notvicbrandt and Liam Heyen (Jimpa) @liamheyen , alongside filmmaker Onir (We Are Faheem & Karun) @iamonir , who shared honest reflections on navigating authentic storytelling, production, and authorship in this industry. Followed, of course, by networking drinks and many wonderful conversations with new connections. 🥂 And now… we are heading into our Sydney Premiere of If/When tonight as part of the My Queer Career Finalists screening. If you’ve secured a ticket to this sold out screening, reach out. I’d love to catch up before or after. 💛 If you’re in Sydney this week or next, send me a message. Let’s connect 😁 #mardigras #queerscreen #filmfestival #ifwhen #ifwhenfilm

✨ FINALIST ANNOUNCEMENT ✨ We’re so proud to share that If/When has been selected as a Finalist for Queer Screen’s 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival 2026 🏳️‍🌈🎬 The film will screen as part of My Queer Career: Australian Shorts, and we couldn’t be more honoured to be included in this lineup. Screening details: 🗓 Monday 23 February 2026 ⏰ 6:30pm 🎥 Event Cinemas George Street 🎟 Tickets: .au/sessions/my-queer-career-australian-shorts/ Friends & family: Please reach out if you’d like a discount code 💛 A huge thank you to Queer Screen for recognising If/When as a Finalist. This selection makes our Sydney premiere even more special for our cast and crew ✨ @queerscreen Directed by: Courtney Westbrook @courtneywestbrookofficial Written by: Richie Black @richie_noir Full list: /if-when A film by ARACOURT studio @aracourtstudio A Knuckles Animation Production @knucklesanimation   If/When is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund @ausculturalfund #makeculturehappen #MGFF26 #queerscreen #mardigras #mardigrasfilmfestival #ifwhen #ifwhenfilm #queercinema #australianshortfilm #shortfilm #animation #design #art #finalist #queerstories #indiefilmmaking #sydneyevents #filmscreening

Last night, If/When screened in the Fully Animated showcase at Melbourne Queer Film Festival @melbqueerfilmfest held at Cinema Nova @cinemanova 💥 Our Producer Jasmine @jasminehairfilm had a wonderfully illuminating discussion with MQFF’s Program Director Ro Bright @ro_brighter about curating this year’s programme, and was invited to the stage to introduce If/When. 💡Fun fact: If/When was the only Australian animation in Fully Animated. It was truly inspiring to see the diverse calibre of work from the UK, Germany, Canada and Taiwan. Thank you to the dedicated MQFF staff and volunteers for organising a fantastic evening! #melbournequeerfilmfestival #mqff2025 #queerfilm #australiananimation #animationcommunity #indiefilmmakers #womeninfilm #nonbinarycreatives #lgbtqiafilm #cinemanova #shortfilmshowcase #festivalseason #australianfilm #filmmakinglife #art #artist #festival #filmfestival #queer #producer #filmproducer

This win belongs to all of us. 🏆💛✨ @canbshrtfilmfest It feels extra special because If/When has been a true team effort. Every donation, every frame, every puppet, every grant, every photo, every set piece, every note of music, every render, every festival, all created by a group of people who cared deeply about telling this story. 🎬🌈 This award is a celebration of our incredible cast and crew, our donors who believed in us long before the film existed, our supporters who championed us at every step, and the wider creative community who showed up, spread the word, and cheered us on! Thank you! If/When exists because so many hearts contributed to it. Thank you for being part of our journey. This win is yours too. 🙌💙 Directed by: Courtney Westbrook @courtneywestbrookofficial Written by: Richie Black @richie_noir Full list of credits: /if-when A film by ARACOURT studio @aracourtstudio A Knuckles Animation Production @knucklesanimation   If/When is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund @ausculturalfund #makeculturehappen 🏆💛🎬🌟🌈 #ifwhenfilm #aracourtstudio #bestanimation #canberrashortfilmfestival #animationteam #creativecollaboration #stopmotionanimation #australianfilm #indiefilmmaking #womeninfilm #queerfilm #filmcommunity #supportlocalcreatives #storytellingmagic #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #art #design #artist #animation #trophy

Aracourt Studio (Ara Nuri Steel and Courtney Westbrook) are incredibly proud of If/When for winning Best Animation at the 30th Anniversary of the Canberra Short Film Festival! 🏆✨ @courtneywestbrookofficial @aranuristeel @aracourtstudio @canbshrtfilmfest A huge thank you to the festival team for your generosity, and an even bigger thank you to all the donors, supporters, and friends of If/When who came along to the awards screening and ceremony last night, and celebrated with us at today’s barbecue. Your support means the world. 👏💙 Congratulations to the entire If/When team! How cool is this!! 🎬🙌 ✨ Should we bring If/When to your city next? 🎞️💛🌈🙌 Directed by: Courtney Westbrook @courtneywestbrookofficial Written by: Richie Black @richie_noir Full list: /if-when A film by ARACOURT studio @aracourtstudio A Knuckles Animation Production @knucklesanimation   If/When is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund @ausculturalfund #makeculturehappen #ifwhenfilm #aracourtstudio #canberrashortfilmfestival #bestanimation #australianfilm #stopmotionanimation #womeninfilm #indiefilmmaking #filmfestivalcircuit #queerfilm #creativecommunity #animatedshort #australiancreatives #behindthescenesfilm #storytellingmagic #ifwhen #art #artist #film #animation #awards

Yesterday I had the privilege of being one of four creatives invited to speak about my filmmaking journey and the creation of If/When at the Canberra Short Film Festival Networking Session. 🎬✨ @canbshrtfilmfest A huge thank you to Festival Director John Frohlich for making this opportunity possible. I’m incredibly grateful to have shared a glimpse into the process behind the film and even more grateful that it sparked conversations that encouraged attendees to seek me out afterward. One of my favourite parts of the evening was how the festival gave every attendee 10–20 seconds to introduce themselves, share their role, and talk about their passions within the industry. This simple format created such a welcoming environment and made it easier for people, including those who find networking daunting, to connect with like-minded creatives. 🤝💛 Well done, Canberra Short Film Festival, for creating a truly inclusive and thoughtfully curated networking space. What a fabulous event! Thank you to all who had a hand in bringing it to life. 🌟 💬 Have you ever been to a networking event that made you feel instantly welcomed? ✨🎬🤝💛 #shortfilm #australianfilm #canberrashortfilmfestival #ifwhenfilm #filmmakerlife #womeninfilm #queerfilm #stopmotionanimation #australiancreatives #filmcommunity #filmmakingjourney #australianarts #networkingevent #indiefilmmaker #supportlocalfilm #ifwhen #canberra #film #films #filmmakinglife

🎬 On Tuesday, Director Courtney Westbrook and Producer Anna Dvorak attended the Canberra Short Film Festival’s 30th Anniversary, where If/When screened as part of the Women On Women showcase. @courtneywestbrookofficial @anna__dvorak @canbshrtfilmfest After the screening, Courtney joined fellow filmmakers Inez Playford (The Mark) and Madeline Davies (She Wore Blue) for a panel discussion diving into the creative process behind their films — from concept to screen. @inezplayford @madeline____grace Thank you to the lovely @elizabethquinnwriter for creating a lovely panel discussion! It was an inspiring night celebrating female voices in film, creativity, and collaboration. Here are a few snippets from the evening! 💫🎥✨ 🎤💬 How did your path into filmmaking begin? 🎞️🍿💬🎭🎥 #aracourtstudio #ifwhenfilm #canberrashortfilmfestival #csff30years #womenonwomen #australianfilm #indiefilm #femalecreatives #filmmakingcommunity #creativeprocess #behindthescenes #storytelling #australianmade #directedbywomen #womeninfilm #ifwhenfilm #ifwhen #art #artist #design

🎬✨ Almost Sold Out! Join us for the Melbourne Queer Film Festival! Our producer Jasmine will be in attendance! @jasminehairfilm We’re thrilled to share that If/When is screening next Sunday, 16 November, 6:00 PM at Cinema Nova (Cinema 9) as part of MQFF’s Fully Animated session — and tickets are almost gone! 🏳️‍🌈💫 This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a vibrant celebration of queer storytelling, creativity, and community. 🌈 @melbqueerfilmfest Come experience an incredible lineup of animated shorts, meet the filmmakers, and celebrate diverse stories that move, inspire, and connect us. 🎟️ Get your tickets before it’s too late: mqff.com.au/program/fully-animated (or via our Linktree) Come celebrate queer storytelling on the big screen — we can’t wait to share this moment with you in Melbourne! 🩵 Directed by: Courtney Westbrook @courtneywestbrookofficial Written by: Richie Black @richie_noir A film by ARACOURT Studio @aracourtstudio A Knuckles Animation Production @knucklesanimation Supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund @ausculturalfund #makeculturehappen #mqff2025 #melbournequeerfilmfestival #ifwhenfilm #ifwhen #queerfilm #animationfilm #shortfilm #australianfilm #cinemanova #queerstories #representationmatters #queercreatives #lgbtqiafilm #melbourneevents #australianfilmmakers #indiefilmmakers #aracourtstudio #art #design #animation #puppet