“Priceless”: Tassie Filmmaker on Putting Out New ‘Art’

Filmmaker Isaac Sargent told Tasmanian Times that putting new art into the world is “priceless”.

Sargent’s short film Wear & Tear recently won the Best Cinematic Craft award at the 2026 Very Short Film Festival (VSFF). It is a slice-of-life story that follows a young woman (played by Vienna Leaf) going about her daily life through the lens of the outfits she wears. As her responsibilities pile up alongside her many clothes, the social pressures of appearance and fashion wear her down.

“We [Vienna and I] made the film specifically for the [Very Short Film Festival], so it was a huge honour to be selected out of hundreds of entries,” Sargent said.

“Fiction filmmaking is my life’s passion, and being recognised by a major Australian festival [VSFF] adds a shining star to my directing portfolio.

“The event itself puts many talented filmmakers in the same room, offering valuable networking and new creative relationships.”

He added that making art is still “a valuable experience, no matter what.”

Sargent said that while he and Vienna are ecstatic to be finalists, he would advise emerging filmmakers not worry about whether their short film is selected or not.

“Even if you don’t make the cut, festivals are still a great motivator to get together with like-minded people and make something on a deadline,” he said.

Fast, sharp, stylish

The VSFF has a strict five-minute time limit, so Sargent and Leaf decided to make Wear & Tear as a swift montage that would effectively convey how the social pressures of appearance and fashion can quickly wear people down.

“Being a fast-paced montage, the film requires a ton of different scenes, far more than a simpler, slower-paced premise would require,” Sargent told Tasmanian Times.

“Keeping track of all these different moments, squeezing them into the shooting schedule, and ordering them in a way that feels natural, was a constant challenge.”

Sargent and Leaf made sure to feature recognisable Hobart locations in several scenes. These included the waterfront and North Hobart strip, as well as local businesses such as Gigi’s Diner and the Henry Jones Atrium.

They will submit Wear & Tear will be submitted to more festivals in the future, and Sargent said he is looking forward to working with Leaf again.

“Vienna and I met during a fashion shoot in January and have collaborated on multiple projects since! I love [her] eye for aesthetics and our ideas are plentiful and in sync.”

Callum J. Jones is passionate about telling stories. He studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania and lived in Western Sydney from 2022 to 2024 while working as a journalist for Professional Planner, a leading online publication for financial planners. Callum has written for Tasmanian Times since 2018 and has also been published in a range of other outlets, including Quadrant and the BAD Western Sydney anthologies.