Synopsis

Lonely schoolgirl Desma is determined to win the school science competition and beat her arch-rival, Celestine. When Desma discovers an incredible creature, an insect-boy endowed with a pair of moth-wings, she thinks victory is hers. But can Desma ignore her attacks of conscience and condemn the vulnerable moth-boy to win a competition? Or will she forfeit her dreams of glory and suffer another humiliating loss to Celestine?

An enchanting short film about human connection, ruthless ambition and entomology.

Development and Production

Writer Rachel Bowen and director Nicholas Verso met while doing a screenwriting course in Melbourne and both admired stories that required a suspension of disbelief and a slight glimmer of humour. When Rachel showed Nick the first draft of Hugo in early 2005 he was immediately interested in directing the dark fairytale for the screen. Six months later, producer Rita Walsh joined the team.

As well as a united belief in the strength of the story Rachel, Nick and Rita, the “three-headed monster” (as one funding executive once put it), were determined to create Mothboy and the world of Hugo using “in-camera” effects rather than animation and CGI. Inspired by the fantasy films of the 1980’s that they grew up with, they set about finding and developing the best puppeteers, wing-makers, moth breeders and slime to help bring the story to life.

Two years later, in 2007, with the support of the Australian Film Commission, Hugo was shot in the middle of a cold Melbourne winter with a devoted and talented cast and crew. It is now ready to begin the journey out of the chrysalis.

Hugo Press Kit

Download Hugo Press Kit PDF

Produced with the support of