Film Overview:
When a chance encounter sparks an intense connection, an aimless young writer questioning his sexuality risks vulnerability, only to discover the limits of desire and the cost of finding himself. Written and directed by Joa Darmansjah and produced by Prudence Herbertson the short romance drama 'Touch' is a poignant, thought-provoking queer coming of age story of connection, longing and self-discovery shared between two young men.
Inspired by real-life events, this film follows Mac, a writer in his early 20s, directionless and struggling with his identity, who is swept off his feet by Kieran, a free-spirited photographer new to the big city, desperate to live larger than his small-town origins. Though brief, their connection leaves them forever changed, charting the rush of new love, to the fears surrounding commitment and devastation when it slips through your fingers like water, and the lessons you learn about yourself along the way. But underneath this lies a visceral, raw portrayal of a first same sex crush and the vulnerability you must confront to discover yourself. Each touch emphasised between Mac and Kieran illustrates their growing tension but also epitomises the nature of relationships - time does not define a person's impact on you.
Director Statement
Originating from the sticks of the Sunshine Coast, Joa Darmansjah is a Brisbane based Writer, Director and Photographer. Though early into his creative career, he’s had work featured in local film festivals and exhibitions. Coming from an acting background, Joa is passionate about performance and authentic story telling when directing. Through film school he’s gathered directing credits for short ad series, but Touch is his debut into directing a script developed by him. For Joa, authenticity is the key to telling a compelling story, that is why Touch is so personal. The development of this film forced him to be vulnerable about his sexuality and come to terms with what connection means as someone who’s unsure where they fit.
Producer Statement
Prudence Herbertson is a Brisbane based filmmaker and artist with a passion for directing, producing and artistic curation. Through her projects at Griffith Film School (2023-2025), she has seven directing credits across short films, TV commercials and live studio work and two producing credits in short film and documentary. Her work has received festival recognition including the 2023 horror short “Shutter” and 2024 documentary “Collector’s Item”. As a hobby and small business, Prudence has taken her visual art and participated in seven local art exhibitions, organized an arts showcase and sold work at markets and engaged in commission work. As a filmmaker, Prudence is interested in telling raw and emotional stories that can be interpreted in many ways but are universally relatable. This is what drew her to Touch, the 15-minute coming of age / romance short film that she is producing as her graduating project from Griffith Film School. Working alongside writer and director Joa Darmansjah and the all-student crew since March 2025, Prudence has been a passionate leader in bringing this story of longing, connection and heartache to life.
