Monday 18th April, 2011
A moving drama about a Croatian refugee making a new life for herself in Australia, has won the 2011 Gold Shorts Awards at the SHORTS Film Festival.
The story of Iskra, is the work of New South Wales Director and Screenwriter Lucy Gaffy. The film tackles the feelings of a refugee whose memories keep her distanced from her world.
Announced as the Gold winner at the festival’s closing awards on Saturday night (April 16), the film was recognised by the judges as a perfectly told drama.
Her award follows the film winning the Audience Choice Award for the Best Short Film at last-week’s 11th Annual Beverly Hills Short Film Awards in the US.
As the Gold Winner sponsored by Hyundai, Lucy receives a trip to Cannes Film Festival – including return airfare, festival registration, accommodation and $1,000 spending money.
The Inaugural Black Shorts Award sponsored by Beach Energy, which was launched to encourage more indigenous films to be made, went to Minnie Loves Junior, another brilliant film directed by Victorian filmmaker Andy Mullins.
The film was recognised for its originality and as the winner of the Black Shorts Award Andy receives $10,000 to further his filmmaking career.
Perth filmmaker Keir Wilkins took out the Silver Shorts Award for his film, Bystander, which tells the story of a man who is pushed into a dangerous spiral, and forced to find answers to the questions he has run from his entire life.
As the Silver Winner sponsored by Kojo Group, Keir receives post production services – including editing and colour grading to the value of $7000 and equipment hire and production services to the value of $3000.
Sydney filmmaker, Christopher Kezelos, received the Bronze Shorts Award for his film Zero. The film was recognised by the judges as ‘an amazing film with great technique and production values’.
Other award-winners were Punch Drunk (Directed by Melbourne filmmaker Sam Wark), Futility (Directed by Queensland filmmaker Wayne Bradford) and Ronan’s Escape (Directed by AJ Carter).
The judging process is completely independent involving a total of 52 judges. Each film entered is judged by a panel of five judges, consisting of arts and media professionals. This year, judging sessions were held in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
The SHORTS Film Festival which ran over the past week (April 9 -16) attracted record attendances, with a total of 1600 people attending the eight screenings and viewing 70 films from Australia and overseas.
The festival was held for the first time in its new home at the Norwood Concert Hall, which will host the event again in 2012.
Established in 2003, the SHORTS Film Festival is the only national dedicated short film festival to be held in South Australia and continues to grow its reputation among filmmakers and audiences alike..
For more information, visit the SHORTS Film Festival website located at www.shortfilmfestival.com