Canberrans may have seen a peculiar sign projected onto the back of a truck and driving around town this week.
"Welcome to Canberra, Australia's safest city!" it read, with a smiling bird standing in front of a cartoon version of the Telstra Tower and a small disclaimer in the corner.
"Caution! This sign has sharp edges."
Out of context, passers-by may wonder if it's a new initiative from VisitCanberra, or perhaps an election ad that's left out the candidate's name. But in reality, this sign has closer ties to the Academy Awards than either of those options.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Adam Elliot was in Canberra this week for a screening of his latest film, Memoir of a Snail. Set largely in 1970s Canberra - marked by many of the city's landmarks, and one, not-so historically accurate "Welcome to Canberra" sign - the stop animation film follows Grace Pudel, as she looks back on her childhood.
Voiced by Sarah Snook (previously seen in Succession), Grace was separated from her twin brother Gilbert and sent to Canberra after her paraplegic father died.
Grace retreats into herself - much like her collection of snails - and fills her emotional void with hoarding. That is, until she strikes up a friendship with outrageous octogenarian Pinky (voiced by Jacki Weaver). Eric Bana, Nick Cave, Tony Armstrong and Magda Szubanski also lend their voices to the film.
While animation has a reputation for only being for children, Elliot's films have always been for adults - a reminder that the film style is a medium, not a genre.
Even the trailer indicates this - an animated octogenarian wearing nipple tassels is a dead giveaway (and will prepare you for the swingers that Grace finds herself living with).
But there are also the darker, more mature themes, such as hoarding shown as the psychological impact of trauma - one of the original seeds for the film's overall premise.
"We all are bowerbirds. We're always bringing home things that we don't need. And why do human beings do this?" Elliot said.
"The more research I did into the psychology of it, I discovered actually it has a lot to do with trauma, and more often than not, the loss of a sibling or a child or a twin.
"The hoarding is a coping mechanism and every object has a sentimental value, and we all place sentimental values on things, but hoarders go to that next level. And when does collecting become a hoard? And it's usually when shame kicks in."
For the Melbourne filmmaker - who is also behind Mary and Max and the Oscar-winning short Harvie Krumpet - Canberra has always been a holiday destination, as he has a lot of family here.
It was that familial connection that inspired Elliot to write a film set in the capital, and approach it with a loving humour.
"There's something I've always loved about Canberra, and that is the space. And it was always such a great place to raise a family, and so I wanted to take Grace to a place that was so alien and different to Melbourne, particularly in the '70s," Elliot said.
"Melbourne is so built up now and congested, and Canberra just wasn't. And also there's space - I wanted Grace to go from this claustrophobic housing commission apartment to this space - almost like she was going to another country.
"Plus everybody knew that Canberra was this pornography capital and it was also the contrast of Canberra being the home of politicians and public servants.
"But I didn't want to be cruel. I wanted it all to be tongue in cheek."
Memoir of a Snail officially lands in Australian cinemas on October 17 but it's already tipped to receive an Oscar nomination. When it premiered at Annecy International Animation Film Festival - the world's premier animation festival - it won best film for 2024.
But Elliot also knows he's up against some stiff competition this year.
"Harvie Krumpet is 21 years ago, and that Oscar was a big shock, and it was a lot of work and it changed my life," Elliot said.
"Of course, I'd love bookends to have two Oscars, but we're in a different category this time - that was the shorts category and this feature is up against Inside Out 2 which has now made more money than Frozen. It's the most successful animated film in history.
"And then there's a film - which I haven't seen - Wild Robots which is coming out. It's the new Dreamworks film, and that's meant to be really beautiful.
"And then there's a whole heap of independent stuff, like mine. So it's a really strong year. And those big studios, their budgets they have for lobbying and campaigning is enormous."
