Audience reactions to Mother’s Tongue

Last night was a terrific experience attending the WA Made Film Festival and seeing Mother’s Tongue on the big screen.

There’s something uniquely powerful about watching your work with an audience. Film is never truly complete until it meets its viewers and this screening gave me the chance to do just that.

It was also a great opportunity to reconnect with some of the cast and crew who came along to support the screening, as well as familiar faces from the Perth film scene. Nights like these are a reminder that filmmaking is never a solo act — it’s a shared creative journey.

Beyond seeing Mother’s Tongue, the evening was filled with a diverse lineup of short films, showcasing the depth of storytelling talent within our local community. It’s always inspiring to sit among peers and experience the variety of voices and visions shaping Western Australian cinema.

After the screening, I took part in a Q&A where I spoke about my reasons for creating Mother’s Tongue. I think this is one of the most valuable exercises for any creative — particularly writers — to reflect on why we tell the stories we do, and what intention sits beneath the narrative.

The audience response was incredibly rewarding. In the film’s darker moments, you could feel the tension in the room. The audible reactions, the “oohs” and “ahs,” and even some strong feelings directed toward the mother character. That emotional engagement is exactly what you hope for as a filmmaker: proof that the story has landed.

Personally, it was a joy to share the night with those who came to support the screening including my wife and kids. Moments like this honour the creative process and remind you why you tell stories in the first place.

My thanks to WA Made Film Festival and everyone who came along.

Experiences like this reaffirm the power of storytelling and the importance of sharing it.