A Queenslandschoolboyis theyoungestfinalistinthe TropfestJrInternationalFilmFestival

Atjusc 11-years-old, Jonah Vetticadcan proudlyboastof beingthedirector of a successfulshore film.TheYear Sixsntdentdirected the four-minutefilmICallSeeYoJf, whichwas selected as one of 15 finalistfilmsfrommore than 300 entriesin the TropJr competition, theworld's largest shortfilm festival competition.

Jonah saidhe "feltamazing" when he fmmdout hisshort!ilm wasreceivedsowellandwould bemaking itto the finals of thecompetition."I didn't think itwasreal,that itwasactually happening.Iwasasconished," he told T!ldian Link.The filmwasone of 15 finaliseshorefilms made by tmder 15-year-olds.Jonahwas the youngestcompetitor amongthe finalises.

Alongwid1 eightfellowstudents from Sc Ita'sPrimarySchool, Jonah co-wroteand directed the film as part of aschool project. Thefilmis aboutan average schoolboy,Jeffrey,whosetask co grab afewbooks from the old school libraryrums into a terrifying adventure.

'1wassittinginthe library whenabookfelloff theshelf and onto myhead,"Jonahsaid of his inspirationfor d1e film."I thought,'whynot make books Ay inthemovie."'

Jonah'sdad Alexander Kaduthanansaid he andwife SuoitaAlexanderwere veryproud of their son'sachievement."He has anaturaltalentwith reading andwritingskills,"Alexander said. "Thiswas anaturalprogression for him."

As part of mec.lass.room project,Jonah's teacher helped allocate roles according ro each child's skills.Jonahwas deemed to have goodleadershipqualities and was given the direccor role.The childrenwerealso givenlessons from a film graduate from me QueenslandCollegeof Arts in filmindustry techniques.

Tcwasn't acompletelysmoom filmshoot,with problems with the boom not recording sounds, and me needfor many takesjn certain scenes."Butitwas greatto learn about moviemaking,"Jonah said. Jonah said theexperience bas motivatedhimro pursue a furnre careerin Ii.Im. "This has beena reallyfunexperience,"he said."If myfirst moviehas gone chis far, I'dlikecomake anod1erone." The buddingdirector alreadyhas an

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Forfurtherinformationcontact 1800 462 193 orvisit wwwsantmatnetau ideafor hisnextfilm,a comedy coldfroma child'spoint of view. "I getideas fromwhathappensin real life,"Jonah said.

Born.inKerala,Jonah andhis parents,alongwid1 sister Amelia, moved coAuscraLiaeight years ago. He is Anent in Malayalam and English, but heexplainedthat his Indianbackgroundmeans he likes Bollywood 6h11s "best"and mat hisrecent favouriteis HappyNeri, Yem·with Shah Rukh Khan."SRK is awesome.He'sentertaining andgreatl"Jonahsaid heis inspired byLidianmovie director Pi:iyadarshan.'1 likeanyrhingd1at entertains the audience,borrm:, thriller,comedy."

Jonah and thefilm's mainactor, JarvisTrenorden,who played Jeffrey, travelledcoSydneyfor che official finaljsc announcement TheTropJr eventwas held as pare of the Tropfesc festivalin earlyDecember inSydney.

JonahVettlcadwasthe youngestfinalistInthe TrQPfestkcompetition

Jonah,picturedfront left,w iththeyoung film makersatthe OperaHousefinalists announcement