Pracas’s (22) film Revive, shot in Fremantle, is one of only 16 finalists in the international festival that has kick-started the careers of many, including Joel Edgerton and former Rockingham local turned Hollywood star Sam Worthington.
It has been seven years since a film shot in WA had made it to the final 16, which will be judged at a screening on Sunday in Sydney.
Revive follows a businessman who decides to break up his daily routine by trying to get a laugh from a child in a window he passes each day on his way to work.
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READ NOWThe story is a reflection of reality for Pracas, who made the bold decision to turn his back on an engineering degree and likely high- paying mining job to follow his passion for film at Edith Cowan University.
‘I was accepted in the first intake for engineering at university but I decided then I just wanted to make films, so why do something I don’t want to do for the rest of my life?’ he said.
‘It’s like the film in a way, trying to break that 9 to 5 cycle.’
Pracas said he was proud to represent not only WA but also Rockingham and paid tribute to local trailblazers and inspirations like Worthington.
‘It’s probably something about Rockingham; there is not a lot for young people to do, so maybe film and creativity is a way to escape from that,’ he said.
‘Tropfest is the biggest short- film festival in the world and having my film Revive selected to screen there is a huge honour.’
Just being a finalist could open the industry door for Pracas and producer Chae Ryan.
‘The possibility of that happening for me is very exciting. At the moment I’m getting all the experience I can,’ he said.
‘My dream is to live happily and comfortably just writing and directing.’
Readers can vote for Revive as part of the Tropfest People’s Choice Award.
Voting for the People’s Choice award opens on Sunday, December 8. Visit www. tropfest.com.