There’s nothing quite like seeing a film come to life on the big screen, and that’s exactly what happened at the private screening of Lara, the latest short film by the incredibly talented Leah Baulch. Over popcorn and a glass of wine at Geelong’s gorgeous Pivotonian Cinema, cast, crew, and close friends gathered for an intimate first look at the film they had all worked so hard to create.
As a proud supporter of Lara, the Geelong Waterfront Film Foundation is thrilled to have played a part in bringing this project to life. Back in 2023, Leah Baulch received a small grant from the Foundation, and from there, she put in the hard work to gather the right people and turn her vision into reality. Seeing it all come together on screen was a special moment – not just for the team behind Lara, but for all of us who love to see local talent shine.
A bit of a tearjerker (so yes, bring the tissues!), Lara takes audiences on an emotional journey. Filmed in the town of Lara itself, the film’s setting is beautifully authentic, even featuring the well-known Lara sign as the characters drive into town. With a running time of just 18 minutes, Lara delivers a powerful story in a short time – proving that great storytelling doesn’t need hours to leave a lasting impact. The next step? Film festivals! We’re eagerly waiting to see how Lara is received on the festival circuit.
A special surprise on the night was the presence of Kerry Armstrong, the beloved Australian actress and author.
Whether you know her as Lynn ‘Wonky’ Warner from Prisoner or Heather Jelly from SeaChange, Kerry has had an incredible career.
But did you know she was also Leah’s acting teacher? It was a full-circle moment to have her there, supporting her former student’s big night.
The camaraderie among the cast and crew was obvious – this was a team that truly clicked. The private screening was as much a celebration of their hard work as it was a reunion of creative minds who had poured their hearts into this project.
Lara is yet another example of how great local stories can flourish when backed by passionate individuals and a film industry that values local voices. The film stars Olivia Fildes (Sunflower), Darcy Kent (Neighbours, Warnie, Offspring), and Leah Baulch herself (Secret City, Road to the Sky). With a small but dedicated crew – including producer Natalia Bornay of Dos Hermanas Productions – Lara proves that with the right team, even the most ambitious projects can come to life.
Reflecting on the journey, Leah shared, “The entire team really dug deep into this story. It’s surprising that we’ve come out with something so moving considering this team had never worked together before. The film is complex, but still relatable. The dedication from this team was huge – to brave the intense summer heat outdoors, long travel times to set, and a lot of emotional vulnerability. But I’m so happy that we had the team we did because there was so much support and passion, and it shows in the final product.”
At Geelong Waterfront Film, we couldn’t be prouder to see another grant recipient flourish. Seeing a film like Lara come to life makes our grant program all the more worthwhile.
Congratulations to Leah and the entire Lara team.
Words & Images: Belinda Lyle, B well connected