Fire in Cardboard City

This award-winning animated short has a key ingredient for a pulp movie: cardboard. It features car chases, explosions and out of control infernos, as a heroic fire brigade battles to save Cardboard City and its dangerously flammable landmarks — including the Beehive and Sky Tower. Director Phil Brough collaborated on the script with fellow Back of the Y alumnus Matt Heath. Brough made his action epic on and off over six years. Fire in Cardboard City was selected for the 2018 Berlin Film Festival. It won awards in New Zealand and the United States, and later spawned TV series Welcome to Cardboard City.

I tried to put as much action-packed action into seven minutes and just keep it entertaining. I often find you go to short film screenings and they’re really depressing.

– Director Phil Brough in an interview with Flicks website, 18 July 2017

Key Cast & Crew

Gareth Van Niekerk

Sound Design, Sound Mix

Matt Heath

Writer, Producer, As: Helicopter Dude #2

Leigh Hart

As: Fire Chief

Lani Purkis

Composer - Closing Credits Music

Phil Brough

Director, Writer, Animator, As: Dad

Karl Steven

Composer