Sydney, Australia: Sony Tropfest Festival Director John Polson announced today that Naomi Watts will be part of the judging panel at Sony Tropfest on Sunday 17 February 2008. The Australian actor and Academy Award nominee will be responsible, along with her fellow judges, for selecting the winners at the world’s largest short film festival.
As well as taking her place on the panel of judges, Sony Tropfest and Balance Water are pleased to confirm Naomi Watts will present the Balance Water Women in Film Award on the night.
The Women in Film award was introduced in 2006 to inspire female filmmakers and to provide an opportunity to screen their films to hundreds of thousands of people across Australia. The prestigious accolade is awarded for excellence in cinematography, editing, writing, directing, composing or producing with the aim of encouraging and supporting emerging female talent.
Naomi Watts’ contribution to film in Australia and success on an international scale makes her the exemplary role model for women in the film industry. Watts’ high profile success has helped to enhance the perception of women in the film, theatre and entertainment industry on a worldwide scale.
As an ambassador for Balance Water’s Women in Film Award at Sony Tropfest 2008, Naomi Watts will lend her support to a cause that she is intrinsically connected to. Her involvement with the award illustrates her experience, insight and understanding of the realities of the industry to inspire, empower and nurture the female film-makers of Australia’s present and future.
‘When I was invited to be a judge at Sony Tropfest I was honoured and eagerly accepted. I was further delighted when asked to present the Balance Women in Film Award at the festival. Australia being home, I naturally wanted to support my fellow Aussie filmmakers, and in particular, the women in our industry. I am proud to be part of the Sony Tropfest tradition, and to be associated with an initiative which offers encouragement to women making strides in the industry.’
Naomi Watts
‘I am very excited to have Balance Water on board as sponsor of the Women in Film Award with Sony Tropfest. It is an even greater honour to have Academy Award nominee, Naomi Watts involved in the project, as a judge and presenter of the award. Naomi is a remarkable and accomplished woman in film, making her an ideal Ambassador. This award acknowledges the many and varied contributions made by women, not just to the finalist films, but to all of the Sony Tropfest entries this year. We hope, too, that it will encourage more women to enter their films into Sony Tropfest and other festivals.’ John Polson, Founder, Sony Tropfest
‘Balance water is very pleased to be part of this years Sony Tropfest. Sponsoring the Women in Film Award is a natural connection for us, and like Sony Tropfest, Balance has recently gone international, launching in US and Japan. It’s great to have Naomi present the award and I’m sure we will be amazed at the breadth of talent on display from all the entrants in this category.’
Martin Chalk, Balance Water
The recipient of the award will receive $5000 in financial support from Balance Water to assist in furthering their development within the industry. The winner will be selected from the Sony Tropfest 2008 finalist and shortlisted entries for excellence in cinematography, editing, writing, directing, composing or producing by industry-recognised panel of judges and presented by Naomi Watts at the festival.
Sony Tropfest introduced this innovative award category in 2006 with the aim of encouraging and supporting Australia’s emerging female filmmaking talent. Catherine Martin presented the inaugural Women in Film Award to Rani Chaleyer for her work as both Editor and Producer of Real Thing in 2007.
Since winning the award, Rani made use of the prize money by setting up an editing suite at home, allowing her to successfully complete a number of documentaries including the Best of Australia series (as seen on Channel Nine).
Sony Tropfest has been a launching pad for many women filmmakers including the winner of Tropfest New York, Belinda King, Sony Tropfest 2004 Finalist Elissa Down, who will be premiering her film Black Balloon at the Berlin Film Festival this month, and fellow Sony Tropfest 2004 Finalist Annabel Osborne, who was the only woman to be selected as part of Mitsubishi Lancer Supershort Series.
Other notable women advocates of Sony Tropfest include past judges Nicole Kidman (life patron), Gillian Armstrong, Catherine Martin, Toni Collette, Salma Hayek, Rose Byrne, Claudia Karvan, Rachel Griffiths, Rachel Ward and Greta Scacchi.
[release from Spin Communications]