Two SAE University College film students turned heads at the 2025 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (MDFF) with short documentaries shaped by music, culture and SAE’s collaborative culture.

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When SAE University College students Kevin Duran Du and Nikhil Anjelo Perera started their Bachelor of Film courses they didn’t set out to make documentaries about music. But, inspired by their documentary course unit and the multi-discipline culture around them, both found themselves drawn to the emotional power of sound.

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Now, while still studying, their hit documentaries have been showcased at the 2025 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, ranked the #1 Melbourne Film Festival by Time Out in 2023 and a spot among the top 15 documentary festivals worldwide according to Google.

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Two different films. One shared theme.

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Kevin’s documentary, GOLPES, offers a poetic and deeply personal portrait of his father, Ulpiano Duran – a retired musician who found healing through a lifetime of music. The film combines intimate interviews with visual storytelling to explore how rhythm can carry someone through grief, displacement and hope.

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“I’ve wanted to make a film about my dad since I was 17, but I never had the resources or time until now,” Kevin said. “My dad was visiting from Colombia for a year, and that gave me the chance to finally bring his story to life. I’ve known him my whole life, this project wasn’t about discovering him, but about sharing his journey, his music, and the weight of his life with others. In many ways, it’s a love letter to him.”