Australia’s hottest young actress, Abbie Cornish, joined film icon Bryan Brown on Saturday August 25 to support budding film makers at the second annual Reel Deal Short Film Festival.
The festival, which also incorporates Australia’s only film scholarship as a major award, has been developed to identify, nurture and assist prospective film makers of the future. This year it attracted some 60 films with 11 short listed as finalists, all displaying a range of feisty, original ideas.
Bryan Brown is patron of the festival and lends his name to the film scholarship – this year won by Sheila Jayadev from Stanmore in Sydney for her stylish, witty and insightful film TXT ME.
With the involvement of influential industry professionals like Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward, Posie Graeme Evans, Flying Bark Productions, AFTRS, UWS, Triple M Network and TVS, as well as guest presenters and celebrities like Abbie Cornish, Directors Mark Joffe and Khoa Do, comedian and media personality Wil Anderson and actress Georgie Parker, the awards are not just a ‘back slapping’ exercise, but a great opportunity for young filmmakers to get their work and talent in front of people who can help shape their careers. Plus the practical and generous cash support from sponsors like the Commonwealth Bank and Revesby Workers’ Club to help them to realise their dreams.
The participants, industry and sponsors response has been overwhelmingly positive about the project and their commitment to the future of the event. Next year the festival will move up a notch with a major media partner in Cumberland Press coming on board to take the event interstate. It will also see the festival offering film makers a choice to set their works against an urban or outback landscape with Broken Hill joining sister city Bankstown as a film location.
The Commonwealth Bank Reel Deal Short Film Festival was an initiative of Revesby Workers’ Club who have worked in conjunction with Bryan Brown to establish it as an annual event. They hope to grow and develop the Reel Deal into a major annual event on the Australian film industry calendar.
The winners of the Commonwealth Bank Reel Deal Film Festival 2007 are:
Bryan Brown Film Scholarship: Sheila Jayadev – TXT ME
Sponsored by Revesby Workers’ Club – valued at $5,000
Best Film: Sheila Jayadev – TXT ME
Sponsored by Commonwealth Bank – valued at $5,000
Best Director: Rob Leggo – The Collectors
Best Director of Photography: Alistair Kroie & Kiah Roache-Turner –TAG
Best Art Director: Brian Stone – Portrait
Best Script: Michael Clarke, Michael Brown, Sheila Jayadev & Julian Schimmel – TXT ME
Best Editor: Rob Leggo – The Collectors
Best Sound: Sean Bell – The Despair of Shammy McSteen
Best Original Music or Music Video: TAG , Alistair Kroie & Kia Roache Producers, Original Music by The Vangarde
Best Animation: Sean Bell – The Despair of Shammy McSteen
People’s Choice Award: Frederick – Robert Cook Producer
Sponsored by Bankstown City Council
Images from the night, plus films for viewing will be available on http://www.reeldeal.com.au/ shortly. Or follow the links on http://www.revesbyworkers.com.au./
[release from Revesby Workers’ Club Ltd]