We Used To Own Houses David Robinson-Smith
Good Oil

Australian award-winning writer/director David Robinson-Smith grew up and is based in Budgewoi on NSW’s Central Coast.

David is focused on stories that find the nuance in seemingly black-and-white issues.

His filmography includes short film Mud Crab (2022), which is currently undertaking its festival circuit and has been recognised internationally by Santa Barbara International Film Festival in the U.S., Raindance Film Festival in London, Melbourne International Film Festival in Australia, and BAFTA Aesthetica Short Film Festival in York. Mud Crab has gone on to win multiple awards at CILECT, Australian Director’s Guild, St Kilda Film Festival and Flickerfest, and is nominated for Best Short Film at the 2024 AACTA Awards.

David’s latest short film We Used To Own Houses (2023) had its world premiere at Melbourne International Film Festival as part of its prestigious 2023 Accelerator Lab, as well as SXSW in Sydney.

David currently in development with his debut feature film Colossus, alongside Executive Producer Michele Bennett and Producer Julia Corcoran.

Awards & Nominations

2022 Australian Director’s Guild Award, Winner Best Direction in a Student Film
2022 CILECT Winner Best Fiction Short Film in Asia-Pacific
2023 St Kilda Film Festival, Winner Best Director
2024 AACTA Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts, Nominated - Best Short Film

Festivals

Melbourne International Film Festival 2022
Raindance Film Festival London 2022
Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2023
Aesthetica Short Film Festival York 2022
SXSW Sydney 2023
Dances With Films Festival Los Angeles 2023
Flickerfest International Film Festival Sydney 2023
In The Palace International Short Film Festival Bulgaria 2023
St Kilda Film Festival Melbourne 2023
CinefestOZ Film Festival Western Australia 2023
INTERFILM 39 International Short Film Festival Berlin 2023
Canberra Short Film Festival 2023
Freshwave International Short Film Festival Hong Kong 2023
Antipodes International Film Festival, Saint-Tropez 2023
Filmschoolfest 42nd, Munich 2023