L-R: AFTRS graduates Brendon McDonall, Vanessa Gazy, Warwick Young and George-Alex Nagle.
The best AFTRS films will now be available to inflight audiences.
Virgin Australia is offering a ‘Best of the Fest’ program, curated quarterly: a selection of AFTRS films that have screened at film festivals like Berlin, Toronto and Palm Springs ShortFest.
“Australia’s up-and-coming filmmakers are winning plaudits around the world, and we are excited about the opportunity to showcase their talent on board our aircraft," said Virgin Australia Chief Customer Officer Mark Hassell.
AFTRS CEO, Neil Peplow, said the school was "really excited about our partnership with Virgin Australia, this is a fantastic avenue to showcase Australia’s emerging filmmakers to new audiences. Virgin Australia is a strong advocate for the arts which makes the airline a perfect fit for the school.”
‘Best of the Fest’ films include:
The Kangaroo Guy (Joel Loxton, Master of Screen Arts 2014) – winner of the Jury Award (International Student Category) at the Montreal World Film Festival, and screened at Flickerfest International Short Film Festival in Sydney and the Australian Short Film Today at the Asia Society, New York.
All God's Creatures (Brendon McDonall, Graduate Diploma in Directing 2012) – winner of the Best Short Film (Nicholas Baudin Prize) at Recontres Internationales du Cinéma des Antipodes in Saint-Tropez last year and winner of the IRIS International Prize 2014. All God's Creatures also screened in Official Selection at Palm Springs International Shortfest 2014, in Official Selection at Nashville International Film Festival 2014 and in Official Selection Flickerfest International Film Festival.
Stuffed (Warwick Young, Master of Screen Arts 2013) – awarded Best Foreign Film at the Beverly Hills Film Festival 2016, the Audience Award (New Talent Showcase) at Down Under Berlin Australian and New Zealand Film Festival in Germany and Best Student Film UK Film Festival 2014. Stuffed also screened in Official Section at Sydney Film Festival 2014, Official Selection at Flickerfest International Short Film Festival 2015, Official Selection Cleveland International Film Festival (US) and Official Selection Valladolid Film Festival, Spain.
Embrace (George-Alex Nagle, Graduate Diploma in Directing 2013) – screened at Sydney Film Festival, Down Under Berlin Australian and New Zealand Film Festival in Germany, and the UK Film Festival in London.
Foal (Vanessa Gazy, Master of Screen Arts 2014) – nominated for three awards at the 2016 St. Kilda Film Festival including Best Achievement in Editing, the Craft Award and Best Young Actor (Lola Bennett). The film screened at Poitiers Film Festival (France), Newport Beach Film Festival (US), WorldFest-Houston International Film + Video Festival and in Official Selection at Flickerfest International Short Film Festival 2015.