Joel Perlgut: upcoming artist-in-residence



Joel Perlgut

Joel Perlgut is a filmmaker living in Sydney. He is drawn to making work about stories that are strange, dark or goofy. Joel won the 2018 AWGIE Award for Best Short Film for his script on ‘I F*cked a Mermaid and No One Believes Me.’


Joel Perlgut, Still from 'Girt by Fear', 2016, https://girtbyfear.com.au

Joel is the co-creator and writer of the web series 'Girt by Fear' and is currently developing a second season of the show with Screen Australia and the ABC. Season 1 of Girt by Fear was nominated for awards at Raindance, LA Web Fest, Toronto Web Fest and the Australian Online Video Awards. Joel was the producer of Tropfest 2016 finalist Tay Man and his shorts have played at Flickerfest, Sitges De Nuit and Sydney Underground Film Festival. Joel’s fiction has been published in Voiceworks and UTS Writers Anthology and his theatre work has been performed at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists and Australian Theatre for Young People.


Joel Perlgut, Still from 'Sad Sachs', 2018


I am currently developing my debut feature film 'The Future is Cancelled,' a black comedy about a dysfunctional family who take a trip up the coast during the apocalypse. I will use the time at Gunyah to work on the first draft of the script, as well as prepare story materials like a treatment and synopsis. The Port Stephens area served as inspiration for the setting of the film and it will be valuable to take photos of the area as part of the writing process.


To find out more about Joel's practice go to his website joelperlgut.com