DAYBREAK

14 min – 2009
Australia / Colombia
Spanish & English

A young South American man struggles to build a new life for his wife and children in Australia. Dreams turn to lies. Lies become reality.Does he have the will to see the light of Amanecer?

CAST & CREW

writer director ALVARO D. RUIZ
andrea JESSICA CHAPNIK KAHN juan MATIAS STEVENS
director of photography ROSS GIARDINA
editor ALVARO D. RUIZ composer PATRICK NELLESTEIN
sound PATRICK NELLESTEIN JAVIER GARCIA
production companies PURACÉ PICTURES MARSHMALLOW PRODUCTIONS

“AN EXQUISITE GEM… THAT IS SURE TO RESONATE WITH ANYONE WHO HAS IMMIGRATED TO A NEW COUNTRY IN SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFER.”

ARTS BEAT L.A.

“ONE OF THE BEST 10 SHORTS
OF THE 2000s.”

SCREEN JUNKIES

FESTIVALS

BEST SHORT FILM – Sydney Latin American Film Festival – Australia. 2009.
BEST ACTOR – Matias Stevens – Colourfest Film Festival – Australia. 2011.
BEST EDITING – El Espejo Short Film Festival – Bogotá, Colombia. 2010.

International Day – Universität Innsbruck, Austria. 2016.
Viéndolo Corto Film Festival, Colombia. 2014
Coruña Film Festival – Spain. 2013.
Buga Film Festival – Colombia. 2013.
Colombian Film Festival New York – 2013.
Barrio Latino Festival. Marrickville – Australia. 2013.
Colourfest “Harmony Day” – DVD – Australia. 2013.
One World Festival – Hornsby, Australia. 2013.
Shorts on “Harmony Day: Many stories, one Australia”
– Beechworth, Vic, Australia / Bodertown, SA, Australia. 2013.
Colombian Film Festival – Medellín, Colombia. 2012.
Popayán Short Film Festival – Colombian Shorts, Colombia. 2011.
Lumiere Short Film Festival – In Comptetition – Cartagena, Col. 2011.
Barichara Int. Film Festival – In Comptetition, Colombia. 2011.
Colourfest Film Festival – In Comptetition, Australia. 2011.
Santafe de Antioquia Film Festival – (Pandora’s Box) Colombia.
Cortópolis Film Festival – Cordoba, Argentina.
Colombian Cinema Showcase – Los Angeles, USA.
Lateinamerikanishes Film Festival – Mainz, Germany.
SandFly Film Festival – Jervis Bay, Australia.
Travelling SandFly Film Festival – Nowra, Australia.
El Espejo Shorts Film Festival – Bogotá, Colombia.
Kimsa International Short Film Gathering – La Paz, Bolivia.
Festival International Short Film Week – Cochabamba, Bolivia.
The Short Film Night (selection of Australian Shorts) – Perú.
La Habana Film Festival – Cuba.
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival – USA.
Shorts Film Festival – Adelaide, Australia.
Sydney Latin American Film Festival – Australia.
Bogotá Film Festival – Colombian Shorts Competition.
Dungog Film Festival – Dungog, Australia.
Villa de Leyva Film Festival – Colombia.
Chia International Film Festival – Colombia.
Manizales Short Film Festival– Colombia.

PRESS

THE DREAMS OF SEEING THE LIGHT OF ‘AMANECER’ – SBS Radio (Audio). Australia.
INDEPENDENT SHORTS FROM THE 2000s – Screen Junkies. USA.
‘AMANECER’ KICKS OFF ‘BORDER STORIES’ AT LALIFF – ArtsBeat Los Angeles. USA.
‘AMANECER’ AT THE DUNGOG FILM FESTIVAL – Inside Film. Australia
SHORT NEED NOT MEAN SMALL – Five 2 One Magazine. USA.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

…it allowed me to tell one of those immigration stories that occur everyday in Australia, a story within a country that continues to be built upon the courage and work of immigrants
* EXTENDED TEXT HERE