D8. Best Directing (Nominee)
Steady, As She Goes
From Andrew Nguyen
A teenage boy scours the internet to find answers about a mysterious phenomenon after experiencing the disturbing and unsettling symptoms it describes. As he searches for answers and as the symptoms worsen, he stumbles across a fragmented digital trail left by another afflicted individual which suggests that he is not alone.
Hi! I'm Andrew Nguyen, a seventeen-year-old student and filmmaker from Melbourne, Victoria. I created my short film 'Steady, As She Goes' as part of my accelerated studies for VCE Media Units 3 & 4 in 2025, which was exhibited and awarded the Second Runner-Up Jury Prize at Top Screen 2026 as part of the VCE Season of Excellence. I am currently completing the remainder of my Year 12 studies at Balwyn High School. I love movies and deeply enjoy filmmaking as a creative outlet, and I hope to continue making films in the future!
What inspired you and your work?
Drawing from my own experiences with identity, a great deal of inspiration was drawn from various works by Jane Schoenbrun, specifically I Saw the TV Glow, which explore trans experiences, gender dysphoria and queer identity, greatly influencing my film's visual aesthetic and presentation. Additional inspiration was drawn from other various works in the analogue and digital horror genre, namely Alex Kister's 'Mandela Catalogue'.