Some talents shine brightest when given room to grow and Soumil Aggarwal is proof. From a simple school project, he’s crafted a film that’s capturing attention across Victoria. Gazette journalist Afraa Kori reports.
Beaconhills College graduate Soumil Aggarwal has earned two prestigious awards for his short comedy film Luckless, created as part of his VCE Media studies.
The film was selected for both Top Designs and Top Screen in the VCE Season of Excellence, which recognises outstanding secondary student work across Victoria.
Luckless tells the story of a young man on the way to a date and how his simple journey quickly unravels as everything that could go wrong, does.
Soumil described the film as a “wholesome yet humorous glimpse into misfortune and resilience”, inviting audiences to laugh at the chaos of his character’s adventure.
He wrote the script, shot the film on one of the school’s Canon DSLR cameras, recruited friends as actors, and used a variety of local locations.
It was his first short film produced entirely on his own. Navigating multiple locations, actors, and unexpected challenges taught him the importance of planning, problem-solving, and adaptability.
He said the most enjoyable part was working with the footage to create the final seven-minute film. “I feel like out of the whole process, my strengths are in post-production,” Soumil said.
This was not his first foray into film. He first received recognition in 2019, earning the Visual Arts Award at Kent Park Primary School. By 2024, he had won the Year 11 category in the Independent Schools Victoria Student Film Festival, and previous screenings, such as at the Monash Youth Film Festival, had helped shape his skills and growing reputation as a filmmaker.
Soumil thanked his Berwick Campus Media teacher Deborah Spilsbury for her support.
Ms Spilsbury said when he joined her Year 10 Media elective, it was “immediately evident that he had a natural talent for visual storytelling.”
“His passion for film making continued throughout his VCE years and it has been wonderful to support him as he developed his craft,” she said.
“Being selected for Top Screen is an outstanding achievement and a testament to his dedication to his media studies.”
Born in Australia to Indian parents, Soumil described the support of his family as key to pursuing his interests freely.
“I tried out many extracurricular activities as a young child such as basketball, karate, guitar, piano, drums, but nothing every really stuck or lasted a significant amount of time,” he said.
“Despite this my parents continued to let me choose my own path, which is what led me to film.”
He added that his approach to storytelling has been shaped more by his personal experiences than by his cultural background.
“I feel as though not being extraordinarily rich, with the ability to buy my way into high quality work, has allowed me to use what I have and my own personal skill to develop much more usable and lasting skill,” Soumil said.
“As for Luckless no money was spent other than boarding the train and school-supplied software and hardware.”
Reflecting on his journey, Soumil said creativity can’t simply be taught.
“No one taught me how to come up with ideas or initiate a genuine, original story – there was no helpful YouTube tutorial or AI that could do that for me,” he said.
“My advice for others considering media or filmmaking, is to simply make a start and keep going. Not every project I’ve made is something that meets my own standards, but I can certainly say I’ve learned something from each.”
Soumil will begin a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television at the University of Melbourne later this year.
He hopes to expand his skills in production and post-production, pursue a career as a director or editor, and continue developing his storytelling voice.
Luckless will be shown at Top Screen from Tuesday 17 March to Tuesday 5 May 2026 at ACMI, and at the Melbourne Museum in Top Designs from Saturday 11 April to Sunday 26 July 2026.
“Winning the Independent Schools Victoria Student Film Festival in 2024 is something I’m so proud of and I’m glad to be able to share it with such a close friend, Geordie,” Soumil said.
“Now being selected into Top Screen, I know that my skill isn’t just within a team, but within myself as well.
“To have my work not only screened again, but to a much larger audience, in a much bigger event.
“To be displayed once again at ACMI and now in Melbourne Museum is an honour and an achievement that I’m proud of.”
Run by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), the annual excellence awards showcase outstanding secondary student work in art, design, technology, multimedia, film, dance, theatre, drama, music, literature and research.
