When a bomb endangers the Pha Tang temple, 'Satu' an orphan child laborer decides to head north through the rich and feral landscape of Laos in search of his long lost mother with his new photojournalist friend 'Bo'.
Director - Joshua Trigg
Joshua Trigg is a visionary filmmaker whose debut feature, Satu - Year of the Rabbit, has garnered international acclaim for its poignant exploration of identity and transformation. The film has achieved remarkable success, including a shortlist for the BIFA Raindance Maverick Award, nominations for Best Directorial Debut at both BIFA and Raindance, and the Naomi Kawase Golden Shika Award at the 2024 Nara International Film Festival. It has also won Best Cinematography at the Cambodia International Film Festival and screened at prestigious festivals such as Aesthetica and Flickers Rhode Island. With a background in film and photography, Trigg's emotionally resonant storytelling and cinematic vision mark him as a rising talent in contemporary cinema.
Trailer:
MEDIA RELEASE
100% Indigenous owned Wirra Distribution, Which could potentially be Australia's first First Nations-owned film distribution company, proudly announces its inaugural release: the internationally celebrated feature Satu – Year of the Rabbit, directed by Welsh filmmaker Joshua Trigg.
A poetic and visually stunning road movie, Satu follows a young orphan and a teenage photojournalist as they journey across Laos in search of identity and connection.
Shot on 16mm film with local producer Lee Phongsavanh, local cast and crew, the production overcame enormous challenges, including limited resources, broken equipment, and pandemic restrictions, to deliver an emotionally resonant and visually rich debut.
The film has earned accolades such as the Golden Shika Grand Prix at the Nara International Film Festival and multiple BIFA nominations.
Satu: Year of the Rabbit explores themes of identity, displacement, and belonging through the journey of a young girl navigating an unfamiliar world. Shot with poetic realism and a distinctive cinematic voice, the film has cemented Joshua Trigg as an emerging talent to watch.
The 35-year-old Welsh film director wrapped up production on Satu: Year of the Rabbit, which was self-funded and shot on location in Laos during the pandemic. The film was shot in just 22 days over four weeks, and for much of that wearing prison bracelets from the Laos government to keep them tracked whilst shooting.
"Everything was by the skin of our teeth, smuggling cameras across borders, poisonous snakes and daily hurdles meant we were in survival mode" says Joshua Trigg, who also praised the production support he received from Executive Producers Noel Goodwin and Ishaan Chandhok.
Producer Lee Phongsavanh, says, "We’re very proud of this Lao-UK film, and grateful that more people will get to see our country, our culture, and our story. I can speak for the Lao crew when I say that working with Josh and his team was a great experience. It might sound cliché, but we didn’t just work on a film we became a real family after all. There were challenges and tough moments during the shoot, but the positive energy we built together gave us the strength to push through and complete the production successfully"
The release also marks a significant milestone for Wirra Distribution and its founder, Travis Akbar, a Wongutha man and filmmaker. Akbar founded Wirra after hearing repeated accounts of negative experiences between First Nations filmmakers and non-Indigenous distributors. His vision is to create a culturally safe, values-driven company that uplifts underrepresented voices.
"Wirra is about integrity, trust, and community," says Akbar. "We want to be a premiere Australian distributor that supports all filmmakers, both, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, whose work aligns with our values. It will be a very slow road, but we will make it happen."
Akbar adds, "Satu – Year of the Rabbit is a beautiful story with absolutely gorgeous cinematography and great performances from the young leads. It's the perfect film to represent what Wirra stands for."
Wirra Distribution has partnered with Dov Kornits of boutique distributor Screen Inc to receive mentorship and guidance on other upcoming releases. This collaboration supports Wirra's growth and helps build strong distribution strategies for delivering bold, independent films across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Of his support, Kornits states, “A First-Nations-owned and operated film distribution company is such an astute and necessary addition to the Australian landscape, coming at a time when authentic voices are so important and are behind some of the most original and essential cinema being produced around the world. As a talented filmmaker in his own right, I am really excited to see what Travis Akbar brings to audiences and filmmakers in the coming years.”
Akbar states, "Dov's support has been pivotal in reaching this milestone. I look forward to learning from such an experienced distribution professional who has consistently championed emerging creatives and the Australian film industry."
The film will screen in select cinemas across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in following its festival release strategy.