The Maker

Synopsis

A strange creature races against time to make the most important and beautiful creation of his life.
Find out what happens next in the sequel!

The meticulous attention to details in production design make each shot a beautiful still. The film is so tightly put together that it’s a bit of shock to learn it’s the outcome of an internet-enabled collaboration across three continents. A production crew in Australia, a puppet designer in Ohio (Amanda Louise Spayd), and post-production in London.
—Short Of The Week

The short film manages to enthrall its viewers from start to finish with its life affirming message and charming characters, The Maker presents us with a story guaranteed to tug at the heart strings, all of which is intensified further by the enchanting music; Winter by the classical Australian composer Paul Halley. —Tribe Magazine

In 2010, film-making husband and wife duo Christopher and Christine Kezelos screened their first stop-motion animation called Zero in over 50 international film festivals, winning 15 awards. In 2011 their follow-up stop-motion short called The Maker has proven to be an even bigger hit.

The Maker is set in a fantasy world where a strange creature races against time to make the most important and beautiful creation of his life.

Director Christopher Kezelos says “The Maker explores the preciousness of our moments on earth, the short time we have with loved ones, and the enjoyment of one’s life’s work and purpose. In their fleeting existence, our characters experience joy, love, hard work, purpose, loss, and loneliness. As the tagline suggests, ‘life is what you make it’ and we are all makers in this world”.

The project was an international collaboration bringing together the same Australian production crew from Zero, with the addition of puppet designer Amanda Louise Spayd from Ohio, USA and post-production facility Monkey Hut from London, UK. Producer Christine Kezelos says “We used the Internet to pull together a team of people we really wanted to work with. As filmmaker’s, we’re no longer constrained by budgets and borders, only by how resourceful we can be”.

The Maker was inspired by one of Australia’s most popular and innovative composers of classical music, Paul Halley. Blending elements of traditional classical styles with a distinctive modern edge, his beautifully infectious composition  Winter, serves as the soundtrack for the entire film.

The Maker has screened at over 70 festivals and won 23 awards, including top honours at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival and SICAF 2012.

Christopher and Christine Kezelos are currently developing a number of film and television projects. Click here for enquiries.

Download The Maker Images

The Maker received 23 international film festival awards.

• 2011 Rhode Island International Film Festival: Grand Prize (USA)
• 2011 Lady Filmmakers Film Festival: Best of Festival (USA)
• 2011 ACS Awards for Cinematography: NSW Gold Award (AUS)
• 2012 SXSW Film Design Awards: Audience Award for Best Poster (USA)
• 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival: Best Animated Short (USA)
• 2012 Animayo Animation Film Festival: Special Jury Mention (Spain)
• 2012 CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (Canada)
• 2012 Sydney Film Festival (Australia)
• 2012 Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival: Grand Prize (Korea)
• 2012 Indy Film Fest: Best Short Film – World Cinema (USA)
• 2012 TheShortList Film Festival: Audience Award for Best Short Film (USA)
• 2012 Granada Film Festival: Best International Short Animation (Spain)
• 2012 ITSA Film Festival: Best Animated Film (USA)
• 2012 San Jose Short Film Festival: Best Animated Short (USA)
• 2012 Couch Fest Film Festival: Best Animation (International)
• 2012 Kaohsiung Film Festival: Best Selection – Fantasy Short Film (Taiwan)
• 2012 Kaohsiung Film Festival: Audience Choice – Fantasy Short Film (Taiwan)
• 2012 Bondi Short Film Festival: Audience Choice (Australia)
• 2012 Bondi Short Film Festival: Best Music (Australia)
• 2012 Bondi Short Film Festival: Best Production Design (Australia)
• 2012 Bondi Short Film Festival: Best Film (Australia)
• 2013 Greek-Australian Short Film Festival: Best Film (Australia)
• 2021 AACTA Short of the Decade: Runner-up (Australia)