Lewis Land Group stumps up $10k for Gold Coast film director for her Los Angeles trip for premiere

‘If you don’t ask, the answer’s always no’. Read how a gifted young Aussie film maker aged 12 managed to get flights and $10,000 spending money to go to her short film’s LA premiere.

Gold Coast Bulletin Young Women of the Year finalist and film maker Aurora Iler, 12, has just secured $10,000 towards her trip to the global premiere of self-directed film, Grape.

With bills stacking up, Aurora thought her family wouldn’t have the funds to afford the trip to LA.

That was until Aurora appeared on Sunrise last week with her mother surprising her live on air with flight tickets thanks to fellow Women of the Year ‘Stars of Tourism’ finalist Michelle Massey, of Amplify Travel.

But to get the trip of a lifetime over the line, Aurora knew she needed a little more support.

She emailed Lewis Land Group’s Harbour Town Centre manager Greg Day, the sponsor of the Young Women category, to see if they could help with funds for Los Angeles.

Cat Iler and Aurora Iler. Picture: Portia Large

Aurora: “Mum and I were like, maybe we’re gonna get like $100 to help.”

Mr Day showed the letter to Lewis Land Group co-chairs Marnie Lewis-Millar and Shay Lewis-Thorp who decided to stump up $10,000 cash make it a trip to remember.

Aurora: “I’m really excited about who I’m going to meet. The whole experience. When you’re in another country it’s very exciting.

“If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no. I asked Harbour Town and I got a yes.”

“Just keep asking. If you get a no that’s the exact same result as if you didn’t ask.”

Cat Iler and daughter Aurora thanking Lewis Land Group's centre manager of Harbour Town Premium Outlets, Greg Day.