Vonne Patiag has been forging a path in film and TV as a writer, director, and actor on shows like Halal Gurls and The Unusual Suspects, and films like Here Out West, Too Many Ethnics, and his new short film Homo, which has its world premiere at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival on 10 July 2026.
Vonne's character driven work is grounded in the exploration of identities, with Homo exploring aspects of queer identities on screen. Vonne plays Rem, the gay friend of Mark (a brilliant Max Brown), a straight actor who is driving out to the country to play the role of Steve, a gay character in a film. Mark has flitted back into Rem's life after years apart, reconnecting with Rem, while also possibly using him as a person to pull inspiration from for his character.
There's a tinge of nineties indie-Americana in the film, one that is elevated by beautiful shots of the countryside from cinematographer Michael Steel. Editor Jessie Hildebrand also imbues the film with a sense of waiting to exhale, a vibe which adds to Rem's yearning for a deeper connection with Mark. This is a sublime film, one that further cements Vonne as a powerful voice in queer Australian cinema.
As you'll hear in the following interview, I found the film utterly beautiful and sweet in the moment, but hours later, I felt myself moved to tears by the memory of Rem and Mark's interactions. As a short film, Homo is stunning, but as a template for what Vonne's feature film will look like, it's one heck of a calling card.
In the following interview, Vonne unpacks the exploration of identities in Homo, while also exploring what queer Australian cinema looks like right now.
Homo screens at Revelation Perth International Film Festival alongside On the Road on 10 July and 17 July 2026. Pick up tickets at RevelationFilmFest.org.
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