In the lead-up to the theatrical release of the MIFF Premiere Fund–supported Sweet As, we speak to director Jub Clerc about authenticity, working with talented actors and listening to Country.

Sweet As is a story about coming of age, finding oneself and the friendships we make along the way. How did the idea for the film come about?

[Producer] Liz Kearney and I were constantly chatting about our first feature together. We’d done The Turning [MIFF 2013] and were like, What’s next? The next few years, we bandied around ideas until, one night, I got a call from Lizzy saying, “What about that photo-safari story you told me about years ago?” It was like a lightning bolt going off in my head. I burst out laughing and said, “Omg, of course it’s that story!”

Alongside its joyous and life-affirming themes, the film also touches on heavier subject matter: broken families, youth disengagement, racialised tensions. How did you balance storytelling and social critique?

I just tried to tell it from the heart and lived experience – my own and that of the people around me that I care for. Hopefully the balance can be seen through the authenticity.

Newcomer Shantae Barnes-Cowan joins Aboriginal stars Tasma Walton and Mark Coles Smith in the cast. What was it like working with such talented actors?

I love working with actors. I trained at [the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts] in performing arts, so I love to delve into character and we had amazing professional and first-time actors in the cast. Shantae is so enigmatic and the camera loves her! Mark and Ngaire [Pigram] are my deadly cousins, so it’s so natural for us to communicate ideas and trust the process together. Tasma is a sister from another mister and a consummate professional; she’s a beacon on set. Carlos [Sanson Jr] and Pedrea [Jackson] are just absolute radiant balls of light and joy; their personalities are totally infectious for both cast and crew, and they give their hearts to their characters. And our first-time actors Andrew [Wallace] and Mikayla [Levy] were so generous in their learning and commitment to the story – what a find in these two new talents!

I really feel like I hit the jackpot with my cast. I can’t thank them enough for what they created with us.

Above: Sweet As  |  Header: Jub Clerc at MIFF 70

Sweet As isn’t just narratively moving – it’s also visually stunning and musically rich. What was the process behind capturing the stunning shots of the Pilbara and putting together the incredible soundtrack?

Country is a sentient being for us First Nations mob, so Country naturally became a character in our story. Country always tells you something if you listen, so we wanted our audience to go on the same journey as Murra, our protagonist – to listen to and feel Country.

Our frames matched Murra’s emotional state in reference to Country. Our choice of music was, firstly, all Indigenous artists. It was so hard finding the right songs because the film kind of had a mind of its own! It really felt like it. We’d lay song after song over scenes, and the film would throw it back at us in a kind of tantrum! [laughs] It was pretty brutal choosing songs up until almost picture lock, but they are all amazing and was worth the care of finding the right ones.

You’re an alumna of MIFF’s Accelerator Lab. How did this program contribute to your career as a filmmaker?

Participating in the MIFF Accelerator Lab was an amazing opportunity to hear from some of the country’s most talented film professionals. To hear firsthand from such influential creators was a gift and definitely inspired me to take the leap into my first feature with courage.

And, of course, at last year’s festival you won the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award. How has this award impacted your filmmaking journey?

I remember teasing the judges backstage after I had won when they asked me what I was going to do with the prize money. I said I could finally buy the yacht I always wanted! [laughs] I was semi-serious because who wouldn’t want a floating, isolated writing retreat? But, instead, it allowed me to travel to all the international and Australian film festivals and conferences, where I made amazing connections and new filmmaking friends. I really couldn’t have made it to all those prestigious film festivals to celebrate Sweet As without the generous prize money and incredible award.

Sweet As will soon be hitting theatres. Any parting words for the audience?

Thanks for supporting Australian films, and I hope you have a great night out of the house!

Sweet As was supported by the MIFF Premiere Fund and screened as part of the MIFF 70 program.