Saccharine
When medical student, Hana (Midori Francis, Grey's Anatomy), runs into an old friend who has drastically slimmed down since high school, she becomes enticed to take the same weight loss medication. Desperate to gain the adoration of her personal trainer and crush, Alanya (Madeleine Madden, Mystery Road), Hana gets wrapped up in her insecurities and addicted to the drug – so much so, she starts making her own pills. But the main ingredient brings ghastly consequences when Hana is haunted by a horrifying and hungry ghost that grows larger while Hana’s body grows smaller. James's stylish, genre filmmaking is a timely and biting critique of online consumption and body-centric culture.
Special Guests
Natalie Erika James is a Japanese-Australian writer, director and producer focused on dark genre stories told with heart. Her debut psychological horror, RELIC, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim, going on to screen at festivals including BFI, SXSW and Sitges, where it was awarded a Special Mention for Direction. RELIC also received a nomination for Best Feature at the 2020 IFP Gotham Awards, as well as nominations for Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Screenplay at the 2020 AACTA Awards.
Tickets
Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
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