Press release from Susie Dobson Global PR
The Australians in Film (AiF) Heath Ledger Scholarship has named actor Jude Law, casting director John Papsidera C.S.A., Maura Fay Group casting agent Ann Fay, director Gregor Jordan and AiF chairman Susie Dobson to its panel of five judges. The announcement was made last night at the AiF benefit screening of The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, Ledger’s last film role, in Hollywood.
Although unable to attend, Jude Law sent the following statement, “I am delighted and honored to do what I can to keep Heath’s legacy alive. He was a brilliant actor and a wonderful man and it is only fitting that this scholarship has been developed in his name.”
Judges were selected as each has a personal connection to Ledger’s career or to AiF. Ann Fay cast him in one of his earliest roles, Gregor Jordan directed him in two films, Jude Law – along with Ledger friends Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell, stepped in to finish his role in The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam. Renowned US casting director John Papsidera cast Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight and Dobson is the chair of the AiF Heath Ledger Scholarship committee and Chairman of Australians in Film.
The second annual scholarship of $10,000 plus Qantas return airfare from Australia will be awarded to one emerging Australian actor to pursue their career in the US. New to this years scholarship, two runner-up prizes of return airfare on Qantas will be awarded, and the three top applicants will receive a Showcast VIP package for valuable international exposure, and ten finalists will receive a Quickflix annual subscription.
The Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship is named for the late actor who was an ambassador and supporter of Australians in Film. Applications have closed and the winner and finalists will be announced in February 2009 at an event in Los Angeles.
Branding Iron, Loeb & Loeb, Qantas, Quickflix and Showcast are on board as the first of this years corporate donors. The AiF Heath Ledger Scholarship has the support of Ledger family, friends and colleagues from the entertainment industry.
About Australians in Film
Founded in May 2001, to celebrate and support the work of Australian film and TV makers, Los Angeles based non-profit Australians in Film has held nearly 200 screenings, premieres and special events and currently has over 600 members. Australians in film Ambassadors include Australian Oscar-winning actors Cate Blanchett (The Aviator 2005), Nicole Kidman (The Hours, 2002), Russell Crowe (Gladiator, 2000) and Geoffrey Rush (Shine, 1996), Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson (Braveheart 1995, The Passion of the Christ, 2004) and 30 other internationally known stars and film-makers including Hugh Jackman, Fred Schepisi and Naomi Watts. In 2008 Australians in Film established the annual Heath Ledger Scholarship in honor of the late actor. For further information please visit www.australiansinfilm.org <http://www.australiansinfilm.org/> .