Jana Politis is a freelance filmmaker and visual artist based in Melbourne, Australia. She specialises in writing, producing, directing, and editing short films and documentaries, as well as in video installation and photography.
Her most recent completed work is Fragments of Time, an experimental video installation where she documented and manipulated the progression of time by combining cinematic and photographic techniques.
She is currently in the early stages of developing her dark comedy film, A Tardy Goodbye.
Through her freelance production work and creative projects, Jana has acquired an extensive range of audio-visual media production skills.
Her long-term goal is to direct feature films and documentaries. One day, she hopes to form her own production company.
Jana feels privileged to be part of a continually evolving industry that enables her to convey essential and meaningful messages quickly and effectively.
EDUCATION
Jana Politis was awarded a Master of Media from RMIT University.
Her master's degree helped to refine her existing skill set while allowing her to explore contemporary media practices and build a creative portfolio using an applied research approach.
EXPERIENCE
2012 – Present
Media Projects
A Tardy Goodbye
(AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2023)
Short dark comedy screenplay that delves into areas of discomfort and breaks taboos via dark and unconventional humour.
SCREENWRITER: JANA POLITIS
Fragments of time
(APRIL-JUNE 2022)
Experimental dual-screen mixed media video installation.
The installation, created as part of an ongoing body of work exploring the concept and passage of time, captures Melbourne City's dynamic urban landscape over 24 hours.
Produced, Directed, Filmed & Edited by: Jana Politis
A COVID Summer
(JULY-OCTOBER 2021)
Short comedy film making light of the COVID-19 pandemic through satire.
The film was made by three distinct filmmakers from three different locations during times of isolation and lockdown at the height of the pandemic.
PRODUCED, DIRECTED, FILMED AND EDITED: JANA POLITIS, BEN FRIZON AND BECKY ADAMSON
CAST: JANA POLITIS, BEN FRIZON, BECKY ADAMSON, ALEX SCHAGEN, MADDI FREELAND
MUSIC BY: BEN FRIZON
SUICIDE NOTE
(October 2020)
short documentary capturing the moment a family’s life is shattered just before a tragic event.
Produced, Directed, Filmed & Edited by: Jana Politis
I LOVE THE CINEMA
(October – December 2019)
Short documentary on Peter Yiannoudes’ 50-year involvement with cinema.
Produced, Directed, Filmed & Edited by: Jana Politis
Georgie Currie
(March – June 2019)
6-minute spotlight on an emerging singer and songwriter pursuing her musical dream.
Produced, Directed and Edited by: JACK FAHEY and JANA POLITIS
Benzina Cantina
(March 2019)
Promotional blog post for Mexican restaurant and bar Benzina CantinA, in the style of a photo essay. Featuring 6 black and white photographs.
Written and photographed by: JANA POLITIS
A Hug for Yiayia
(March – November 2017)
Short film about an elderly woman who has come to live in Australia, where all her children reside. After many years of separation and isolation, she has finally been reunited with them. Only to be faced with another kind of loneliness…
Screenwriter, Producer, Director and Editor: JANA POLITIS
Assistant Director: Thomas Brooks
Cinematographer: Samuel Vella
Location Sound Recordist: Liam House
Gaffer: Ashley Lomas
1st Production Assistant: Jeong Han
Data Wrangler: Martina Petrov
Music by Vincent Nguyen
Cast (In Order of Appearance):
Susan Radchenko, Claire Sara, Scott Knight, Emily Le Couture, Eadie Milne
Karagiozis
(March 2017)
Stop motion animation featuring the culturally iconic 19th-century traditional Greek shadow-puppet theatre characters of Karagiozi, the play.
Screenwriter, Producer, Director and Editor: JANA POLITIS
Blindfolded
(September – October 2016)
Short film about two young siblings, who decide to play what originally seems like a dangerous game in an attempt to understand how a blind person feels.
Screenwriter, Producer, Director and Editor: JANA POLITIS
Assistant Director: Scarlett Fu
Camera and Lighting: Zane Ozcan
Sound: Antoinette Jackson
Assistant: Lewis Robert
Cast:
Bridget Williams, Samuel Winspear-Shillings, Dule Goodman, Holly Mccrossin, Faezh Parkes
Come Find Me
(October 2016)
Screenplay based on Newspaper articles exploring the contrast of two worlds – While the frenzy of the new game Pokemon Go spreads all over the world, with people of all ages and walks of life obsessively engrossed in it, things are very different for children in Syria.
SCREENWRITER: JANA POLITIS
Apocalypse
(July 2016)
Short film, using green screen chroma key production and editing techniques.
Editor: JANA POLITIS
An Interview with Ellie Papantoniou
(May 2016)
Interview with Ellie Papantoniou, former journalist and female cultural rights activist.
Director, Producer and Editor: JANA POLITIs
An Interview with Sandy Caldow
(June 2015)
Interview with Sandy Caldow, an artist specialising in ceramics, sculpture, collage, photography, mixed media and poetry.
Director, Producer and Editor: JANA POLITIS
Camera and Lighting: Katy Harrison
Sound: Kirsty Godkin
Production Assistant: Doris Chen
Assistant: Matt Glouftsis
Lentil as Anything
(September – October 2012)
Short documentary on the not-for-profit organisation Lentils as Anything.
Director, Producer and Editor: JANA POLITIS