Elise's Blanket, directed by Neville Hiatt (Australia, 2023), is a short film included in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. While its narrative is intimate and understated, the film explores themes of family, individuality and the small adventures of childhood and adolescence. Shot with a gentle attention to detail, it invites viewers to notice the everyday strengths and connections that shape young lives. Within the festival program, Elise's Blanket offers a quiet portrait that celebrates ability and personal growth, reminding audiences that courage and joy often appear in ordinary moments.
Elise's Blanket, a film by Neville Hyatt. Elise loved when her anchor came to visit. She wasn't old enough to say uncle properly and he thought that made her even more adorable. Elise's uncle was a photographer who was always flying around the world. Whenever he came to visit, Elise would listen intently to the latest stories like his trip on an old plane in Africa held together with string and bubble gum. Elise loved hearing more stories about the animals in Australia, almost as much as she loved pancakes for breakfast. If you're an Australian you are safe, they only like tourists so what you need to do is smear a dollop of Vegemite behind each ear and then you will be safe. He was sad every time the taxi honked to pick Uncle up for his next flight. Elise was excited when she video chatted with Uncle on her mum's phone. But sometimes Uncle flew to locations where the phone access wasn't good enough to call. On those days, Elise would try to remember all the exciting places Uncle visited and tell her puppy the stories so she wouldn't forget. Sometimes she got the animals and places in the stories all mixed up, but Puppy liked those stories the best. Elise was looking forward to starting school next year so she could show her teacher everything she had learned about counting and telling the time. Travelling to different time zones around the world meant sometimes Uncle would be sleeping while Elise was awake. Or Elise was sleeping while Uncle was awake. Elise loved playing in the snow with Puppy while thinking about Uncle swimming at the beach because where he was it was summer. She wondered if the shops where Uncle was still decorated for Christmas even though they had no snow. Uncle had asked Elise what she would like for Christmas and she was counting down the days to see if she would get a penguin or a kangaroo. She thought they would make good friends for Puppy to play ball with. Elise's mum got startled as Puppy lit her foot. She jumped banging her knee under the table. She had been so focused on reading an email from Uncle that she hadn't heard Elise and Puppy come into the room. She quickly closed the screen while rubbing her sore knee so Elise wouldn't find out the thoughtful gift Uncle had made her for Christmas. Are you ok mum? I'm ok thanks sweetie, what have you two been doing? We've been playing outside mummy, but Puppy is hungry now from running around so much. Can we have a snack please? She didn't need an answer to no, she could see the snow, but she wanted to distract Elise in case she had recognised any of the words in the email. Elise was sound asleep on Christmas Eve when Uncle's present arrived. Elise's mum and dad wrapped it and placed it under the tree. Elise wondered why Puppy was super excited when she woke up, then she remembered it was Christmas morning. She was very thankful for her new crayons and roller skates, but they would have to wait for tomorrow. She wrapped herself in the photo blanket from Uncle, it was her most favourite present ever. She snuggled under it to watch Christmas movies for the rest of the day. As she fell asleep that night under her special Christmas blanket, she dreamt of being in Egypt on a photo assignment just like Uncle. Written by Neville Hyatt, Illustrated by Neville Hyatt, Directed by Neville Hyatt, Produced by Neville Hyatt, Edited by Neville Hyatt, Narrated by Neville Hyatt, Animated by Neville Hyatt, Copyright 2023, nevillehyatt.com
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Elise's Blanket by Neville Hiatt (2023)
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Elise's Blanket
by Neville Hiatt - OPEN ENTRANT SHORT
