Lucia Franks

When a disabled teenager fears she will never find love, she enlists her friends to become her mentors in the unpredictable world of dating and discovers that love can come in unexpected ways and different forms.

The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest (The Film) is a 2024 indie horror film written by Adelaides charismatic punk-pop duo Teenage Joans to accompany their debut album of the same name. Directed and edited by Jamie Al-Kayyali, the short film is a colourful debut from both Al-Kayyali and the band. The film follows Cahli and Tahlia of Teenage Joans (as themselves) on a magical yet leery journey through Rotland. After becoming acquainted with the Easter Bunny (played by Cahli Blakers) and Tooth Fairy (played by Tahlia Borg), the bewitching pair discover the lands forbidden fruits, the candy apples, and the hidden secrets that they hold.

Determined to make her beloved teddy bear look 'normal' before her birthday, 12-year-old Ellie's search takes her on a journey that changes the way she understands difference; both in her bear and in herself.