Two Australian films have won awards at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). The Australian Film Commission (AFC) today announced that The Black Balloon had taken out the Crystal Bear for best feature-length film in the Generation 14plus section of the festival, and Nana was awarded the Crystal Bear for best short film in the Generation Kplus section. Feature documentary Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story was also recognised with the second-place audience award in the Panorama program.
Starring Toni Collette and Gemma Ward, The Black Balloon was written by Elissa Down and Jimmy The Exploder, and directed by Elissa Down. It was produced by Tristram Miall with Anita Belgiorno-Nettis, Toni Collette, Sally Chesher and Mark Gooder as executive producers, and financed by the Film Finance Corporation and New South Wales Film and Television Office.
This is the first Crystal Bear for an Australian feature since 1992, when No Worries won Best Children’s Film.
‘We are ecstatic about winning the Crystal Bear,’ said director Elissa Down. ‘The reception we’ve had at the Berlinale has been overwhelming and we’re really thrilled the audiences have loved the film so much. We’ve had such a good time in Berlin and are looking forward to our Australian release on 6 March.’
Producer Tristram Miall added, ‘Young German audiences laughed and cried through three packed screenings. The film has a great truthfulness which they embraced and enjoyed, and we couldn’t have wished for a better response and connection to it. This means a lot to us.’
Nana, the Kplus Crystal Bear winner, was written and directed by Warwick Thornton and produced by Kath Shelper. It was produced through the Bit of Black Business short drama initiative funded by the AFC’s Indigenous Branch, SBSi and the New South Wales Film and Television Office.
The Crystal Bear is the second award Thornton and Shelper have won at the Berlinale. In 2005 their film Green Bush won the Panorama Best Short Film. The same year, Wayne Blair, another Indigenous filmmaker, took out the Crystal Bear in the Kinderfilmfest for his film The Djarn Djarns.
‘This is a tremendous achievement for all the filmmakers,’ said AFC Chief Executive Chris Fitchett. ‘In the case of Nana, we’re very pleased that the work of outstanding Indigenous filmmakers continues to be recognised internationally. Developing talent in this area has been a particular focus for the AFC for many years.’
The Australian-produced independent documentary Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story, about controversial South African political satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys, was written and directed by Julian Shaw and produced by Jonathon Green.
The Black Balloon (97 mins)
Production Company: Black Balloon Productions Pty Ltd
Exec Producers: Anita Belgiorno-Nettis, Toni Collette, Sally Chesher, Mark Gooder
Producer: Tristram Miall
Director: Elissa Down
Writers: Elissa Down, Jimmy The Exploder
International Sales: Icon Entertainment International
Australian Distribution: Icon Film Distribution
Cast: Rhys Wakefield, Gemma Ward, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, and Toni Collette
Produced and developed with the assistance of the Film Finance Corporation, New South Wales Film and Television Office and the Australian Film Commission.
Synopsis: It’s not easy being Thomas Mollison (Rhys Wakefield). He’s turning 16, and his autistic brother Charlie embarrasses him. So do his wacky parents. When his pregnant mother (Toni Collette) is confined to bed rest, he is left in charge of Charlie (Luke Ford) and with the help of his new girlfriend Jackie (Gemma Ward), Thomas faces his biggest challenge yet.
Nana (6 mins)
Producer: Kath Shelper
Director: Warwick Thornton
Writer: Warwick Thornton
Sales Contact: Flickerfest Short Film Bureau
Cast: Mitjili Napanangka Gibson, Kiara Napurrula Gibson
Produced and developed with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission Bit of Black Business Indigenous Funding Initiative, SBS Independent and the New South Wales Film and Television Office.
Synopsis: Nana’s granddaughter thinks Nana’s pretty special. She loves her Nana because she helps the old people, she’s a good painter and other people love her too. Nana’s got everyone under control.
Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story
(54 mins)
Production Company: Greenlight Productions Pty Ltd
Producer: Jonathon Green
Director: Julian Shaw
Writer: Julian Shaw
Sales Contact: Jonathon Green
Featuring: Pieter-Dirk Uys, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Evita Bezuidenhout
Synopsis: Controversial South African political satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys allows writer/director Julian Shaw into his previously off limits inner world. The result is a startling document of Pieter’s work educating school children about their country’s greatest threat, HIV/AIDS, and an unforgettable portrait of the power of individual will.
[release from Avviso PR]