Maras' film The Palace had its international premiere at the 2011 Telluride Film Festival and won 'Best Short Fiction Film' and 'Best Screenplay in a Short Film' at the 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA Awards).
The Palace also won Best Short Film at a number of other film festivals and awards ceremonies including the 2012 Beverly Hills Film Festival (Best Short Film, Best Director), 2011 Sydney Film Festival (Best Short Fiction Film), 2011 Melbourne International Film Festival (Best Australian Short Film), 2012 Flickerfest International Festival of Short Films (Best Australian Short Film), 2011 IF Awards (Rising Talent), 2012 Shorts Film Festival (Best Short Film), 2012 Australian Film Festival (Best Short Film) and the 2011 Adelaide Film Festival (Best Short Film – Audience Award).
