“run with the ball and die with your boots on.”
Coming from an Australian-Rules-football-loving-family, this was often said to us as a way of spurring us into action.
So it only seemed fitting to build our company around this very ethos, and coincidently was the name of our very first film.
In non-football terms, it’s to run hard at your goal until the very end.
And our goal as a film company is simple;
to make high quality, commercially viable films with broad appeal.
keeping it in the family.
East Hill Film Co. is an Australian film company, committed to championing new voices, sourcing and telling local stories with high production values.
Father and daughter team, they combine Gavan’s experience with politics and economics, having served in the Federal Parliament, with Sophie’s writing, directing and creativity.
Together, they develop and create, entertaining and meaningful stories with national and international appeal.
meet the team.
sophie o’connor
WRITER | DIRECTOR | PRODUCER
Sophie O’Connor is an accomplished Producer, Writer and Director.
Her first short film, RUN WITH THE BALL & DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON, was Runners-up at Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) 2008 – Footy Shorts Competition.
Her debut feature film, SUBMERGE (2013), was invited to over 30 festivals worldwide including; First Time Fest (USA) Frameline38 (USA), BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (UK) & was the Closing Night film for Melbourne Queer Film Festival (AUS).
She has produced and directed six TVC’s for Interflora Australia, together with a talented group of women; DOP Sky Davies, Wardrobe and Make-up Olivia Still, Composer Lydia Davies & Producer Carla McConnell.
She is one of the co-founders of East Hill Film Co, which has produced numerous short films and the heartfelt documentary,
THE WARRION FLOWER SHOW (2010).
Her short film HANGRY (2015), had its World Premiere at Soho International Film Festival 2015 (USA) and won Best World Short.
Her recent short film CLAP, starring Molly Broadstock and Gemma Chua-Tran (from ABC’s Emmy Nominated Mustangs FC) premiered at Academy Award Accredited, Flickerfest 2020, and won five awards, at Australian Women’s Film Festival 2021, including;
Best Editing, Best Actor, Best Dramatic Short Film, Best Director and Best Film.
gavan o’connor
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Gavan O’Connor was born and raised in a small rural community in the Western District of Victoria.
He served in the Australian Parliament as the Federal Member for Corio (1993-2007). During his Parliamentary service, he became part of a bipartisan group of Parliamentarians supporting the Australian Film and TV industry.
On leaving Parliament, he became involved with the film industry at the local regional level and in 2013, with his partner, published an industry plan for the Geelong Region to stimulate and guide the development of boutique production capacity in Geelong.
He currently serves on the Board of the Geelong Waterfront Film Foundation, which was recently established to support local filmmakers and promote film making in the Geelong Region.
He has been the Executive Producer on all of East Hill Film Co. films, and specialises in financial strategy and management.