narrative

anything from serialised stories about a sauce slinging superhero to a meandering meditation on moments of meaning-making and merriness

A Short film about anything

Short Film as part of Doctorate of Philosophy at Deakin University - 2025

A documentary weaving together voices from sixteen countries exploring meaning in the everyday.

Producer: Grace Davison
Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg

Close-up of a door with teal paint and a brass latch, partially open, revealing a dark interior.
Old boat floating on calm water with reflections of trees and wooden poles.
A cross-shaped structure in the foreground with a mountain range covered in multiple layers of misty mountains in the background.
Interior of a church or auditorium with high stained glass windows, golden curtains, and wooden columns. A woman with curly hair wearing a floral blouse is sitting alone in a pew, reading or writing. The space is softly lit by natural sunlight.
Two people sitting on a stone bench in front of a red building with large windows, engaged in conversation. One appears to be a woman with a light-colored cap, and the other a man with glasses and a striped shirt. Part of a beige wall is visible on the left side of the image.
View of rooftops with chimneys and antennas against a cloudy evening sky with hints of sunset colors.

I’m So SOrry for your loss

ABC Series - 2024

After her father dies unexpectedly, Annie lands a job at a funeral home in an attempt to gain closure. The shambolic small business, run by her dysfunctional boss Sal, opens Annie’s eyes to the bizarre world of funerals.

Starring: Annie Louey, Fady Kassab
Director: Jemma Cotter
Producer: Annie Thiele
Cinematographer: Oscar Axel Thorborg

A woman with dark hair pulled up wearing a dark uniform with a pink scarf, sitting in a church pew looking at her phone.
People seated in a church or chapel, listening attentively, with some wearing red or black clothing and scarves, and a few holding papers or programs. The interior features white walls, arched windows, and wooden pews.
A woman with black hair and sunglasses on her head, wearing a white blouse, is looking downward outdoors with a background of green trees and a cloudy sky.
Woman in white shirt and dark trousers kneels by a black car with a damaged tire, holding her head in distress, near a chain-link fence and trees.
A man in a dark suit and a woman in a dark jacket with a pink scarf are looking at a tablet together in a room with chairs and a table of fruit. There is a picture of a man with glasses on the tablet's screen.
An elderly woman with gray hair and glasses hanging from her shirt stands indoors, facing a person whose face is not visible, in a serious conversation. The woman is wearing a dark, floral-patterned traditional dress.

sauceman

Webseries - 2025

A series following the wild and wacky adventures of Sauceman, a condiment based superhero out to rid the world of blandness at any cost.

Starring: Urvi Majumdar, Oli Stening, Michael Boateng, Rhys Carter, Gloria De Foe
Producer, Director : Oli Stening
Cinematographer: Oscar Axel Thorborg

A dark, empty office room with a black office chair, white empty shelves, and a small black cabinet. The room has a gray floor and gray walls, with minimal lighting.
A woman sitting at a round white table eating a meal with a fork, with lunch container, water glass, and phone on the table, in a break room with a bulletin board on the wall.
Woman looking into a microwave oven from inside, with a container of food in the foreground.
A bald man wearing a white shirt is sitting at a desk in an office, talking on a cellphone. The office has a drop ceiling with fluorescent lights and computer monitors in the background.
Person dressed as a superhero in a red and yellow costume with a cape, kneeling on one knee in an office hallway.
A man dressed as a superhero with a red costume and mask, standing indoors with a serious expression.

sunlite

Short Film as part of Doctorate of Philosophy at Deakin University - 2023

An existential drama about a PhD candidate who rejects family, friends and her own wellbeing in an obsessive pursuit of studying the metabolism of plants.

Starring: Jasmine Hope, Daniel Shin
Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Producer: Simone Alcorn, Hamish Leslie-Kelly

ACS Gold Award Winner 2024 - Branded Content

A woman with dark hair watching a movie in a theater, sitting in a row of dark theater seats and holding a bowl of popcorn.
A woman lying on a hospital bed with medical tubes attached to her face, her face is bloodied and bruised, as a healthcare worker in gloves examines her forehead.
A young man with black hair and a blue shirt sitting at a table in a busy cafe, engaging in conversation with someone out of frame.
A woman with long dark hair gently touching a large green leaf among various houseplants on a table in a dimly lit room, with a window in the background covered with sticky notes and papers.
A leafy plant with round green leaves is in a transparent glass pot, placed near a window with light shining through. A diagram or chart is partially visible on the left side, and a blurred indoor scene with warm lighting is in the background.

toast

Short Film for Koala Mattress - 2021

As apart of Koala Mattress’s Koalaween campaign, this short film was made entirely within Melbourne’s 2021 Covid Lockdowns. It tells the story of a malicious toaster threatening the sanctity of a young woman's night in.

Starring: Grace Davison
Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Producer: Vanja Petrov

Seen at: Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival, Sydney Underground Film Festival, West End Film Festival & Silver Winner at the Australian Cinematography Society Awards

Close-up of a woman with tears in her eyes, leaning on her hand, appearing distressed or sad.
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair looking over her shoulder in a dimly lit room.
A person looks through a tunnel of red neon lights, with a distressed or confused expression on their face.
A woman with brown hair lying in bed, resting her head on a pillow, appears to be asleep with her face close to a black KamBroock toaster.
A woman with dark hair and a striped sweater is in a dimly lit kitchen, placing bread into a black toaster on a white countertop. A large mirror behind her reflects her image and the kitchen's dark surroundings, including black appliances and a stove.
Black toaster with two slices of bread inside on a white countertop.

A Void Up There

Short Film as part of Doctorate of Philosophy at Deakin University - 2022

As a hole begins to open up in the sky, Sam struggles to get her last will and testament witnessed by her absent-minded brother.

Starring: Kathleen Mary Lee, Jackson Tozer & Isabella Giovinazzo
Writer, Director, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Producer: Simone Alcorn
Cinematographer: Dillion Pearce

A group of three people in a modern kitchen, with one woman sitting, a man standing and talking, and another woman leaning on the counter, all engaged in a conversation.
A person with brown hair holding onto a car's dashboard while looking out the windshield at the overcast sky and trees outside.
A silhouette of a person standing in a dimly lit kitchen with a window, a wall clock, and various kitchen items on the countertop.
Silhouettes of two people, one seated and one standing, in a backyard with a white house and wooden deck, during sunset or sunrise.

Chip packet day

Short Film - 2023

A young woman seeks refuge in the comfort of a chip packet when her partner arrives home with a barrage of social obligations.

Starring: Ayesha Gibson, Max García-Underwood
Writer, Director, Cinematographer: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Editor: James Walker

Seen at: St Kilda Film Festival, Setting Sun Film Festival Screening, Port Shorts,
Short+Sweet Film Festival, Sydney Underground Film Festiva, Peninsula Film Festival

A young woman with brown hair sitting inside a reflective, metallic tunnel-like structure, looking up at the camera.
A young woman with red hair looks upward in a space surrounded by crinkled, reflective plastic sheeting.
A young man smiling at the camera, viewed through a reflective or metallic surface, with a blurred background.
A couple sitting on a leather couch playing video games, with snacks and drinks on a table in front of them.

From the Hearse’s mouth

6 Episode Web Series - 2022

Comedian Annie Louey (ABC, Comedy Festival Allstars Supershow) takes a bunch of comedians and performers on a ride with her in a vintage hearse to talk about life and death.

Starring: Annie Louey Claire Hooper, Dane Simpson, Lena Moon, Ben Lomas, Anna Louey and Shiralee.
Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Producer: Heidi Pietzner

A woman and a man are standing and laughing together, with the woman crossing her arms and the man leaning on a railing, in an indoor setting.
Three people walking along a stone pathway inside a large, dark, historic building with high arched ceiling and narrow windows, illuminated by light coming through the windows.
Close-up of a woman with tan skin and dark hair, looking to the right, with a blurred green background. She has earrings and a sticker on her shirt that reads 'FUCK THE PATRIARCHY'.
Two people standing outdoors near a tall tree on a grassy hill during sunset, with a clear sky.
A woman with long black hair, wearing a pink blazer, sitting in the driver's seat of a white car, smiling, with a background of trees and parked vehicles.
Young woman with wavy brown hair wearing a sleeveless dress with floral patterns is outdoors in a park, smiling and looking down, with trees and green grass in the background.

active bystander

Short Film for Monash University - 2019

Working with Monash University we developed a short film to illustrate the importance to being an active bystander. We worked with real students who committed whole heartedly to creating this quirky short with a serious message.

Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Producer: Aliya Tamro

A man in a white T-shirt and jeans working behind a coffee shop counter, with cups, glasses, and kitchen equipment visible in the background.
Woman with long hair and a hair clip is grimacing as she is fed a piece of apple pie with a fork.
Woman with long dark hair pointing forward with a serious expression on her face in an indoor setting with warm lighting.
Two young men sit at a wooden table in a cafe, one looks annoyed while the other looks at him. They are having breakfast with pancakes, coffee, and a bottle of syrup. A woman in the background is reading a menu.

Trypophobia

Short Film - 2019

A psychological body horror about grief, guilt and tiny holes.

Starring Mahalia Brown
Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Producer: Aliya Tamro

Seen at: Reel Good Film Festival, Monster Fest, Houston Horror Film Festival, Grindhouse Nights Film Festival & Halloweenapalooza

Close-up of clusters of small, round, brown buds with purple-tinted tips
A distressed woman with wet hair and a concerned expression, set against a dark background.
A woman with long dark hair and a distressed expression leaning forward in a car, with debris and foam on her face and close to her face, indicating a possible crash or accident.
A woman sitting on a stool in a photography studio, with a dark background, a camera and a notepad in front of her.

self isolation

Short Film - 2020

Created in the first few weeks of, and as a reaction to, the Melbourne’s 2020 Covid Lockdowns. A young woman battling boredom and her noisy neighbours is surprised to find the Coronavirus living in her wardrobe.

Starring: Grace Davison
Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg

Seen at: Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, Setting Sun Film Festival, Unified Filmmakers Festival, Woodland Film Festival & Winner at Pivot Film Festival

‘The funniest and most moving film in our festival’ ~ The Salt Lake Tribune

A woman with short, unkempt hair, wearing a textured, loose-knit sweater, is sitting in a dimly lit room illuminated by purple neon lighting. She is looking into a mirror, holding a glass of wine near her mouth, with a contemplative expression.
A woman with short brown hair and a dark top is holding and about to eat a large slice of bread or toast in a kitchen.
A woman wearing a hair cap and facial sheet mask looking at her reflection in a mirror.
A woman with a wide smile and closed eyes has clothespins attached to her face, including her forehead, chin, and cheeks, creating an exaggerated humorous expression.
Woman sitting on a couch drinking from a glass with her eyes closed, surrounded by blankets and pillows, with a board game and playing cards on the table in front of her.
A person wearing a patterned surgical hair cap, clear protective goggles, a white N95 mask, and a green medical gown, likely in a healthcare or laboratory environment.

avocado toast

Short Film - 2018

A young woman finds a letter from her future self warning that her taste for avocado toast threatens to the financial stability of her newly acquired home.

Starring: Ayesha Gibson
Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg

Seen at: Warburton Film Festival & Blue Heeler Film Festival

A woman sitting cross-legged on a wooden floor in a partly furnished room with cardboard boxes around her, looking thoughtfully upward. There is a plate with a slice of avocado toast in front of her.
A woman with reddish-blonde hair looks concerned or distressed, with her mouth slightly open, in a close-up shot in a dimly lit setting.
A woman with platinum blonde hair with pink and purple hues, wearing a pink top, has a triangle and circle tattooed on her face near her eye and looks slightly to the side with a serious expression.
Two women at a table, one is reading a letter and appears distressed, the other is dressed as a fairy with silver hair and wings, looking at her.

meet cute

Short Film - 2019

A case of mistaken identity sparks romance between a lonely lady looking for drugs and a down on his luck gentleman searching for a sex worker.

Starring: Kristin Sargent & Jackson Tozer
Writer, Director: Oscar Axel Thorborg
Cinematographer: Michael Middleton
Producer: Kristin Sargent

Seen at: Rhode Island International Film Festival, St Kilda Film Festival, Reel Good Film Festival, & Winner at Sydney Underground Film Festival

A woman lying on a couch with a neck brace, surrounded by cluttered items such as cans, boxes, papers, and Snack food.
A woman with messy, wet hair has a strained and distressed expression while wearing a medical cervical collar around her neck, in a tiled room.
A woman with long brown hair making a serious facial expression, wearing a neck brace and a black leather jacket, sitting in a scene with blurred background and warm lighting.
A woman and a man standing in an elevator with red lighting, both looking towards their right with concerned expressions. The woman has long, wavy hair and the man has short, curly hair and a beard. The elevator walls are decorated with posters and graffiti.
A man with curly hair and a beard is sitting on the edge of a disheveled bed, talking on a phone, wearing a gray t-shirt and shorts. The room is messy with laundry on the floor, a fan on the right, and a small nightstand with books and a turntable next to the bed. The window behind him is letting in natural light.
A man wearing sunglasses, a gray hoodie, and a pink T-shirt sits at a table looking at his phone. A woman in a red dress with a large bow and a white fur coat stands beside him, showing interest in him.

to the devil my neighbour

6 Episode Web Series - 2020

Grace and Oscar are kept awake by their noisy neighbours only to discover they are in fact a Satanic cult.

Starring: Grace Davison & Oscar Axel Thorborg
Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Oscar Axel Thorborg

A young man lying on a bed, smiling and looking to the side, in a dimly lit room.
A man with a beard and messy hair wearing a patterned coat, T-shirt, and boxer shorts, standing barefoot in a bathroom and looking at someone who is partially visible. The bathroom has a toilet, mirror, and various toiletries.
A man with a beard and curly hair appears distressed as he is attacked from behind in a dimly lit room with reddish lighting.
A young woman with dark hair tied in two buns, wearing a white T-shirt that says 'I ♥ Swedish Girls', standing in a doorway and smiling.