The winner of the 2007 Melbourne International Film Festival Melbourne Airport Emerging Australian Filmmaker Award, Warwick Thornton http://www.melbourneairport.com.au/emergingtalent/profile_wthornton.asp , won the Crystal Bear of the Kplus Generation (Best Short Film Award) at the prestigious 2008 Berlin International Film Festival.
Warwick’s award winning film Nana is set in Jay Creek, Northern Territory and is the story of one strong woman who makes sure that community and family come first. Warwick Thornton’s unique voice tells this simple story of outback courage.
After winning the Melbourne Airport Emerging Australian Filmmaker Award at MIFF in August 2007, Nana was recently screened on SBS TV and won the Inside Film (IF) Award for Best Short Film in November before being selected for Berlin.
In 2007 the Melbourne Airport included a travel scholarship to their Emerging Australian Filmmaker Award In addition to the AU$5000 cash prize already offered in the best MIFF shorts awards. For the next three years the scholarship will include a trip to the Berlin Film Festival, bringing the total prize value to AU$10,000.
Other MIFF films have gone on to excelling at international film festivals and awards include: David Michôd’s Crossbow (Sundance 2008), Nash Edgerton’s Spider (Special Mention Award Sundance 2008); Sean Byrne’s Advantage (Sundance 2008), Erin White’s Dugong (Sundance 2008); and Closing Night Film This is England, winning British Film of the Year (2008 BAFTA).
Filmmakers have until 7 April, 2007 to submit their short film for entry into the Melbourne International Film Festival’s (MIFF) 2008 programme. The most highly regarded short film competition in the Asia Pacific, the Best Bigpond MIFF shorts competition screens approximately 100 short films every year, including animation, experimental, documentary and fiction films. In 2008, the Festival will offer filmmakers from around the world the opportunity to compete for 10 awards, with prize money totalling AUD$35,000.
For further information, visit http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/
The 2008 festival will run from July 25 – August 10, 2008.
[release from Limelight PR]