Watch: Short doc “The Big Wait” – About a remote airport in Australia

by Alex Billington
November 7, 2024
Source: YouTube

“Here’s a place where I think we can find hope.” Take a trip to the other side of the world, to a remote place in the middle of a dusty plain. The great wait is an excellent short documentary film is just 15 minutes long – it originally premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year. Now online to watch after playing festivals throughout 2024. In a remote Australian desert town, the population twoa couple runs an emergency airport and keeps vacant cottages in pristine condition, waiting for visitors who never seem to arrive. The airport is called the Forrest Airport (see Google Maps) located on the Nullarbor Plains in the middle of South/West Australia. The airport is intended for emergencies and other stopovers, and a few planes have actually used it. Director Yannick Jamey explains why he made this film: “I wanted to explore the definition of reason and the delicate balance between freedom and madness through this microcosm of Western society reduced to a street, six houses and two people surrounded by ‘pure emptiness.’

Thanks to Short of the week for advice on this one. Here is the brief introduction via YouTube: “In a remote Australian desert town of two, a couple runs an emergency airport and keeps vacant cottages in pristine condition, waiting for visitors who never seem to arrive.” The great wait is a short film directed by Australian filmmaker Yannick Jamey based in Sydney – you can see more of his work at his Vimeo page or his official website or follow him on IG @yannickjamey. Produced by Lucy Pijnenburg, Yannick Jamey. With photography by Lucy Pijnenburg and original music by Ernst Reijseger. This premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year. Jamey comments: “Enjoy this little time capsule in a timeless space. A perfect short film if you’re looking to take your mind off the election, and other things…” For more information on the film, visit SOTW And Yannick’s website. To enjoy more short films, Click here. Your thoughts?

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