Press Release from 6DC
SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS AND KICK START YOUR FILM CAREER WITH THE 2011 JAMESON IF AWARDS
Despite being a multibillion dollar industry globally, film can be incredibly difficult to break into, whether as an up-and-coming filmmaker looking to make your mark or gaining support for an independent production that you have put your heart and soul into. The Jameson IF Awards seeks to support young filmmakers and independent productions through the IF Award for Rising Talent and National Film and Sound Archive Independent Spirit Award. These awards, which have been part of the IF Awards program since 2001, have brought awareness to those who show great promise in the Australian film industry with previous winners going on to successful film careers.
The IF Award for Rising Talent is a great way for up and coming movie makers to showcase their skills to the greater film community and a way to jump start their film career. It is presented to an individual working in any arena including drama, documentary and animation who exhibits incredible talent or potential. Previous winners of the award include 2006 winner Peter Templeman who has gone on to win thirty-eight major festival awards for his short films, an Oscar nomination for The Saviour in 2007 and a BAFTA nomination for his Ladder of Love episode for the television series Lockie Leonard.
The NFSA Independent Spirit IF Award acknowledges an individual or a team of no more than three people who have shown creativity and determination in the face of challenging circumstances to complete their film. In 2008 Benjamin Gilmour and Carolyn Johnson won the award for Son of a Lion, a film about tribal Pashtuns. Gilmour ignored advice not to go into Darra Adam Khel, Pakistan, where beheadings have awaited foreigners. Casting local residents as his actors, Gilmour grew a beard, dressed in traditional clothing and filmed with a hand held camera to avoid detection from authorities in order to make the film.
“The National Film and Sound Archive is delighted to sponsor the Independent Spirit IF Award for 2011 for a second year. We are committed to collecting and preserving Australian films, and see our involvement with upcoming filmmakers at the start of their career as vital for the longevity of film,” said Ann Landrigan NFSA Acting CEO. “We’d like to encourage filmmakers to enter the Awards and, of course, to deposit their films with the NFSA!”
For the fifth year in a row, both these awards are open to the public for nominations. The Jameson IF Awards are passionate about reflecting the views of Australian audiences as well as encouraging the public to get behind Australian talent. Nominations and applications for both these awards are now open with details on terms and conditions on the IF Award website www.ifawards.com. Entries for the 2011 IF Award for Rising Talent close 5pm on the 22 July 2011 and the NFSA Independent Spirit IF Award applications close 5pm on July 25, 2011.
“The IF Awards for Rising Talent and Independent Spirit celebrate what makes the Australian film industry such a dynamic and highly-regarded one on the international front, championing the emerging talent in not only film but television as well. 2010’s Rising Talent Award winner, Ariel Kleiman is currently working in London screen industry and the 2010 NFSA Independent Spirit IF Award winning project, Caught Inside will be released this August, marking continuing success for those talented winners of these two pivotal awards.” Annie Parnell, General Manager of the Jameson IF Awards.
The 2011 Jameson IF Awards is the only people’s choice film awards and will be held in mid-November in Sydney.