Strange Beasts is a look at the meteoric rise and fall of the Bacchus Marsh Lion Safari, as told through the eyes of the director’s father, Ron ‘Prenda’ Prendergast; a then 18 year old big cat keeper. From its initial boom, to its protracted closure, the park remains shrouded in mystery and folklore. Until now.
Shot on 16mm, the mixed media approach seamlessly sits archival footage beside era specific animation techniques, such as scratch on film, paint on glass, stop motion and 2d.
Winner of Best Screenwriter CineOz, Best Short Film DocEdge, Official selection Clermont Ferrand, Oscar qualified.