A whimsical wish-fulfillment fable imbued with a sense of childhood innocence and wonder, How My Next Door Neighbour Discovered Life On Mars is the story of a young boy who dreams of discovering life on Mars and the next door neighbour who makes it happen. Told through a hybrid of live-action and traditional animation, this short film takes an innovative approach to an enduring fable as it reaches a triumphant conclusion that proves that dreams can – and do – come true.
How My Next Door Neighbour Discovered Life On Mars premiered at the inaugural Equinox Film Festival in Melbourne, Australia in September 2005, beginning a three year film festival campaign covering cinemas in over fifty cities on six continents, including stops at the Durban International Film Festival, the Melbourne International Children's Film Festival, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the CBC Viewfinders International Film Festival for Youth, and the Brisbane International Film Festival. Awards included Best Film at the 21st Warner Roadshow Queensland New Filmmakers Awards, Best Short Film at the 2005 ILT Spirit of Screen Awards, and a 'Silver' for Best Cinematography in a Short Film in 2005 from the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS).