Eddy Bell’s Grey Bull was named best Australian short film at the 24th annual Flickerfest awards on Sunday night.
The filmt follows a South Sudanese refugee who decides to rescue a bull at the abattoir where he works, believing it’s a spiritual totem. Once home, the animal begins to jeopardise the family's chance at fitting into their new life.
A special jury prize was awarded to Carl Firth’s The Witching Hour, the saga of several people who get swept up in the mayhem of a mysterious world at midnight.
Saluted as the best Australian animation short was Bush Mechanics, which follows the adventures of bush mechanics driving over red dirt roads as the mischievous spirit “munga munga” pursues them, co-directed by Jason Japaljarri Woods and Jonathan Daw.
Atsuko Hirayanagi’s Oh Lucy! took the gong for best international short. It's the tale of a 55-year-old single 'office lady' in Tokyo who is given a blonde wig and a new identity by her young, unconventional English instructor.
The awards were held at the Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach, where a selection of the award-winning films was screened before the closing night party.
“We are thrilled that the 2015 festival has been such a success with record crowds and great enthusiasm expressed for the programs screened," said festival director Bronwyn Kidd. “It’s great to see short film so warmly embraced by audiences across our 10-day event.”
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS:
Flickerfest Award for Best International Short Film (Academy® Accredited):
OH LUCY! (Japan/USA)
Wri/Dir: Atsuko Hirayanagi
Prod: Masumi Soga, Atsuko Hirayanagi, Ken Natsuhara, Perry Loong, Brendan Hubberd,
Special Jury Prize – Best International Short Film:
BAD HUNTER (Belgium)
Wri/Dir: Sahim Omar Kalifa
Prod: DRIES PHYLO, JEAN-CLAUDE VAN RIJCKEGHEM
Yoram Gross Award for Best International Short Animation (Academy® Accredited):
SYMPHONY NO. 42 (Hungary)
Wri /Dir: Réka Bucsi
Dir: JÓZSEF FÜLÖP
SAE Creative Media Institute Award for Best Use of Digital Technology in a Short Film:
THE BIGGER PICTURE (UK)
Wri/Dir: Daisy Jacobs
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS:
Virgin Australia Award for Best Australian Short Film, (Academy® Accredited):
GREY BULL
By Eddy Bell and Khoby Rowe
Special Jury Prize:
THE WITCHING HOUR
Wri/Dir; Carl Firth
Prod: Carl Firth and Luke Tierney
Canon Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film:
SNOWBLIND
Wri/Dir: Sean Kruck
Prod: Caroline Barry
Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Short Animation
BUSH MECHANICS
Wri: Francis Jupurrla Kelly, David Batty, Jason Jalparri Woods & Jonathan Daw
Dir: Jason Japaljarri Woods & Jonathan Daw
Prod: Michael Taylor & Jeff Bruer
Miller Australia Award for Best Cinematography in an Australian Short Film:
CARAVAN
Cinematographer: Matt Wood
Wri/Dir: Kieran Watson-Bonnice
Prod; Kieran Watson-Bonnice and Matt Wood
Avid Award for Best Editing in An Australian Short Film:
BREATH
Editor: Matt Orzeski
Wri/Dir: Ben Dickinson
Prod: Mike Horvath
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS:
Flickerfest Award for Best Short Documentary Film (Academy® Accredited):
SHIPWRECK (The Netherlands)
Dir: Morgan Knibbe
Prod: Jos De Putter
Highly Commended for Documentary:
LOVE IN A TIME OF MARCH MADNESS
Wri/Dir/Prod: Melissa Johnson
Dir/Prod: Robertino Zambrano
INTERNATIONAL GREENFLICKS COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS:
Flickerfest GreenFlicks Award for Best Environmental Short Film:
DUSTS (POUSSIERES) (France)
Wri/Dir: Daniel Metge
Prod: Sandra da Fonesca
Highly Commended for GreenFlicks:
If You Love Your Children (Canada)
Dir/Prod: Sanjay Patel
Wri: Victoria Wharfe McIntyre
NATIONAL FLICKERUP COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS:
SAE Institute FlickerUp Award for Best High School Production:
SURFACE TENSION
Dir: Olivia Eastwood
Yoram Gross FlickerUp Award for Best High School Animation:
POST APOCALYPTIC ARCADIA
Wri/Dir/Prod: Sean Harper
AVID FlickerUpAward for Best Editing in High School Film:
MISCONCEPTION
Dir: Shendall Hay
Prod: St Mary’s Anglican Girls School
FLICKERFEST FlickerUp Award for Best Primary School Production:
WI-FI – AN INVENTION THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Wri/Dir/Prod: Eve Cogan