Michelle Lehman (NSW) was awarded first prize at Sony Tropfest 2008 yesterday by a panel of celebrity judges for Marry Me.
Michelle, Sony Tropfest 2008 winner said ‘I am thrilled and grateful to Sony Tropfest for giving me the opportunity to create and exhibit my work and of course for choosing my film. It is a great platform for filmmakers to be acknowledged. We worked very hard on this film and to have it recognised by judges in the industry is a testament that hard work pays off. As a filmmaker, having my films seen by an audience of such a great magnitude is what dreams are made of.’
‘Sony Tropfest 2008 was a great success. It’s so exciting to see the thousands enjoying the films across Australia,’ says John Polson, founder and creative director of Sony Tropfest. ‘The atmosphere was electric. I’m ecstatic for Michelle. Her film is a great example of the incredible talent among emerging Australian filmmakers.’
Audiences of over 150,000 were transfixed as the 16 finalist films were beamed live via satellite to venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide and Brisbane, plus 8 regional locations around Australia.
The panel of six celebrity judges including; Naomi Watts, Geoffrey Rush, Gillian Armstrong, Ray Lawrence, Claudia Karvan and last year’s winner Steve Baker presented awards as well as Australian identities Bryan Brown, Nash Edgerton and Noah Taylor.
The awards were presented as follows:
First Prize
Film: Marry Me
Director: Michelle Lehman
State: NSW
Presented by: Geoffrey Rush
Prize: QANTAS Scholarship Program
1st Prize Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designers
Qantas Scholarship Program: Including a trip for 2 to the USA, 6 nights accommodation, and a tailored program of meetings with agents, executives and industry (valued at $10,000)
Presented by QANTAS Airways
High Definition 3 x CMOS HDV Handycam (HDRFX7), Soft carrying case (LCSVCB), High Grade Wide Conversion Lens (VCLHG0862), Polarising Filter Kit (VF62CPK) (Valued at $6,196)
Presented by Sony Australia
A fully maintained All-New Mitsubishi Lancer VRX (1) on lease for a period of 12months
Presented by Mitsubishi Motors
$5,000 Cash
Presented by Kennedy Miller Mitchell
A director’s attachment on an Australian feature film
Presented by Australian Directors Guild
$7,000 Credit for Sound Edit & Mix
Presented by SongZu
35mm ARRI Film Recording of Winning Film (valued at $5,000)
Presented by Digital Pictures Melbourne
Registration for the Producer to SPAA Conference or SPAA Fringe 2008
Presented by SPAA
$1,000 Customer Hire Voucher
Presented by ABC Costumes
Second Prize: Runner Up
Film: Uncle Jonny
Director: Mark Constable
State: VIC
Presented by: Gillian Armstrong
Prize:
2nd Prize Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$3,500 Cash
Presented by the Australian Centre For The Moving Image
The 2008 Production Book
Presented by The Production Book
Third Prize
Film: Great White Hunters
Director: Gary Doust
State: NSW
Presented by: Ray Lawrence
3rd Prize Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$2,500 Cash
Presented by the SAE Institute
Balance Water Women In Film Award
Film: Glass
Director: Jayne Montague
State: NSW
Presented by: Naomi Watts
Prize:
Balance Water Women In Film Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$5,000 Cash
Presented by Balance Water
Awarded for excellence in cinematography, editing, writing, directing, composing or producing with the aim to encourage and support Australian emerging female filmmaking talent.
SONY Foundation Young Talent Award
Film: The Code
Director: Murray Fahey
Actor: Shardyn Fahey-Leigh
State: NSW
Presented by: Jacob Bicknell
Prize:
Sony Foundation Young Talent Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
VAIO Notebook VGN-FZ28G), High Definition HDV Handycam (HDRHC9), Handycam Case (LCSX20) (valued at $5,137)
Presented by Sony Australia
Best Male Actor
Film: Smitten
Director: Grey Rogers
Actor: Andrew Gilmore
State: QLD
Presented by: Bryan Brown
Prize:
Best Male Actor Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur DesignsS
$3,000 Cash
Donated by Nicole Kidman
Best Female Actor
Film: Marry Me
Director: Michelle Lehman
Actress: Jahla Bryant
State: NSW
Presented by: Claudia Karvan
Prize:
Best Female Actor Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$3,000 Cash
Donated by Nicole Kidman
Best Comedy
Film: Great White Hunters
Director: Gary Doust
State: NSW
Presented by: Jamie Row
Prize:
Best Comedy Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$1,500 Cash
Presented by Nova 969
Best Cinematography
Film: Glass
Cinematographer: Carl Robertson
Director: Jayne Montague
State: NSW
Prize:
Best Cinematography Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$1,500 Cash
Presented by Kodak
Best Screenplay
Film: Looped
Director: Sarah Crowest
State: SA
Presented by: Jeremy Podeswa
Prize:
Best Screenplay Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$1,000 Cash
Presented by IIndie Maverick
Best Original Score
Film: White Lines
Director: Craig MacLean
Winner: Craig MacLean
State: VIC
Presented by: Nash Edgerton
Prize:
Best Original Score Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
$1,000 Cash
Presented by SongZu
Best Editing
Film: Scab
Director: Koichi Iguchi
Winners: Junya Otsuka / Takauki Mori
Country: Japan
Prize:
Best Editing Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
Post services to the value of $2,000 (includes editing, DVD authoring & duplication, grading, file I/O, and output to tape)
Presented by Magnet Post
Sony Vegas Pro 8 Software, Sony Cinescore Software (valued at $1,078)
Presented by Sony Creative Software
Best Animation Award
Film: Fault
Director: Daniel Miller
State: ACT
Presented by: Steve Baker
Prize:
Best Animation Trophy
Presented by Dinosaur Designs
Choice of Autodesk Animation software: either Autodesk Maya Complete software or Autodesk 3ds Max software (valued at $5,500)
Presented by Autodesk Australia
The Tropicana Award
Film: Scab
Director: Koichi Iguchi
Country: Japan
Presented by: Noah Taylor
Prize:
$1,500 Cash & Coffee for a year
Presented by Tropicana Caffe
Coffee Machine & Beans
Presented by La Casa Del Caffe
Subscription to The Sydney Morning Herald OR The Age for 1 year (valued at $350)
Presented by The Sydney Morning Herald – The Age
The Bright Spark Awards
Film: My Brother, My Sanctuary
Director: Johnny Tran
Film: Loveless
Director: Karl Madderoom
Film: Spider
Director: Steven Woodburn
Prize:
Awarded to three short listed filmmakers to encourage their development and interest in film production.
One full scholarship to Participate feature filmmaking course (valued at $6,000)
Two half scholarships to Participate feature filmmaking course (valued at $3,000 each)
Presented by Participate Film Academy
This year was the first time in Tropfest history, film fans were able to watch the Tropfest event live online, exclusively on ninemsn. Check out this year’s finalist films and get a behind-the-scenes look at the festival on http://www.ninemsn.com.au/tropfest
Free official Sony Tropfest 2008 DVD featuring all 16 finalist films will be available in the Saturday 23 February edition of The Sydney Morning Herald.
On Thursday 22nd March 2008 the Nine Network will air The Best of Sony Tropfest 2008 which will showcase finalist films, filmmaker interviews and festival highlights.
For updates on the winners check out, http://www.tropfest.com/
[release from Spin Communications]