Gone Before Roll Call (2026), film still

Gone Before Roll Call

About this Short Film

This mockumentary follows a documentary crew investigating a bizarre mystery at Hume Valley School, where teachers have been mysteriously disappearing over the past three months. As the crew interviews students, CRTs and the few remaining teachers, everyone has a different theory about what is really happening. Some believe the teachers have gone on strike, others think aliens are involved, while a few are convinced something even stranger is taking place. As the investigation continues, the theories become more ridiculous, the evidence grows more confusing, and teachers continue to vanish without explanation. Blending deadpan interviews, news reports, security footage and comedic reenactments, the film builds towards an unexpected ending that leaves viewers wondering if the documentary crew might be the next to disappear.

Film Details

Country: Australia
State: Victoria
Category: School Short
Genre: Comedy
Festival Year: 2026

Film Transcript

Heat. Heat.

At first, we thought the teachers were just sick. Then Mr. Johnson disappeared halfway through maths. He said, "You guys work quietly while I print worksheets." That was 3 days ago. Honestly, I think I snapped. One teacher got asked 19 times if we were doing anything fun today, then disappeared.

All right, guys. Time for the roll. Peter here. Sandy here. Fergus, yeah. Aon, yeah. Dylan, yeah. Jason. Oh, is this the interview? I reckon that teachers became influencers. Mister, can we do something fun? Ready?

Am I doing it wrong or you doing it wrong? No, I'm doing it wrong. Yeah, we're kind of a big deal on TikTok. Teacher Squad, like, follow, share. Didn't all the teachers disappear to become influencers? Is that what happened? No, but we do get paid more now.

The clues are everywhere. Empty coffee cups. I finished reports. It's definitely Jason.

Uh, where's your teacher? I don't know. I just missed my pesy mask.

Still no sign of the teachers then. I don't think they're missing. I think they've been replaced.

What do you think they've been replaced with? Robots. Why do you think they're robots? My maths teacher smiled.

There we go. I have collected all the clothes. And what does that mean? I have no idea.

So, can you tell us your theory about what you think happened to the teachers? They got chuffed in the staff meeting. That would mean the meeting went for 3 months. Have you seen the meeting end on time?

Jason, Mr. Talis has now gone missing. Last seen down at the volleyball courts. Uh, do you have any idea what might have happened to him? Okay, then.

And have you heard the rumours that Jason might be responsible for the missing teachers? Oh, yeah. I mean, Jason's a great student and—yeah, sure. A lot of the teachers did start disappearing when he first enrolled here, but I think that's just a coincidence. Jason's been doing really well recently. In fact, I think we might make him school captain. Actually, there he is now. I might just go and tell him. Hey, Jason.

Jason and action. Definitely aliens. What do you know about time travel? God.

Filmmaker

Hume Valley Group 1 is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Hume Valley Group 1.

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