It’s Fine, I’m Fine heads to Cannes competition

A new short-form series, filmed during the pandemic, with names including Heather Mitchell, Andrew McFarlane, Catherine Van-Davies and Eryn Jean Norvill has been selected to compete at Cannes.

It’s Fine, I’m Fine is the only Australian entry in the official selection in-competition at CanneSeries 2022.

Created and directed by Stef Smith (Joy Boy, The Lost Tapes) the part shorts are produced by Photoplay but yet to be signed to an Australia network or subscription platform.

The series explores therapy with a magical realism, black comedy twist and features Heather Mitchell (Love Me), Andrew McFarlane (Secret City) and Arky Michael (House of Bond) alongside talented rising stars Catherine Van-Davies (Hungry Ghosts), Eryn Jean Norvill (Preppers), Wendy Mocke (Troppo) and Chris Bunton (Relic).

Writers include Ana Maria Belo, Arky Michael, Anna Lindner, Cecilia Morrow, Chris Bunton, Jeanette Cronin, Michael Gupta, Nick Coyle, Stef Smith and Wendy Mocke.

Smith said: “This show melds together three things I love – happy/sad stories, magical realism & therapy. Though I don’t go to therapy nearly as much as I should (but who does?). As a storyteller I’m really drawn to the happy / sad moments. Look at the world around us, it’s impossible to be happy all the time. Life is too complex for that. Are we all alone in the Universe? I dunno but sometimes it sure as shit feels like it. I find embracing sadness is a really healthy and liberating thing.

“Shooting 80 pages in eight days during a pandemic was a terrifying challenge only made possible because of our amazing team. I’m a sucker for an underdog story and for our ‘little project that could’, to end up screening in a place like Cannes, is overwhelming and thrilling to say the least!”

Screen Australia’s Head of Online Lee Naimo said: “A huge congratulations to this team on being selected for CanneSeries. Creator Stef Smith along with such an exciting array of writers have brought a unique, poignant and visually beautiful story to the screen and we are proud to see it premiere on the world stage.”

David Gordon, Acting Head of Screen NSW said: “Screen NSW is thrilled to be a supporter of It’s Fine, I’m Fine, which is representing NSW’s talented screen industry at its world premiere in competition at CanneSeries 2022. Supported by a stellar creative team that includes the production team at Photoplay, this heart-warming short form series directed by Stef Smith gives voice to 10 emerging Australian writers covering a range of diverse stories.”

It will receive its world premiere at CanneSeries during MIPTV on April 5. Attending will be Creator / Director Stef Smith, Actor / Writer Ana Maria Belo, Actor / Writer Chris Bunton, series Editor Lily Davis and actress Margaret Pittas.