The 2014 Sit Down, Shutup and Watch Film & New Media Festival Award Winners were announced on Friday at the Red Carpet Awards Ceremony held in Angaston, Barossa Valley, celebrating and acknowledging the creativity and outstanding talents of filmmakers with a learning disability.
Winning films were selected from more than 40 films entered from around Australia and the globe. There were nine separate award categories: SA Film Corporation Most Original Film, Access2Arts Best Music Video, Arts Access Australia New Media and Video Art Award, Best Animation, Best Special Effects, Funniest Film, The Hive Award, Our Story and Best of the Festival. Finalists reflected the global interest in learning disability led filmmaking with films nominated from Germany, UK, Ireland and Israel as well as across Australia.
A formal welcome by Lee Witczak, Chairperson of the SDSW Festival Steering Committee kicked off proceedings. This was followed by an introduction from Councilor Margaret Harris from the Barossa Valley Council, and official opening address by Jennifer Layther, Director Presenting Programs, Organisations and Initiatives Arts SA. Angaston Town Hall played host to approximately 300 festival patrons throughout the day, with approximately 150 attending the Red Carpet Awards Presentation on Friday night.
“Our first SDSW festival has been a huge success and has exceeded our expectations. We say a big, big thank you to all who entered and to all who supported our vision to make this first festival a reality. After three years in planning we are thrilled with our achievements,” said Lee Witczak, Chairperson SDSW Steering Committee.
Mervyn Bradley’s The Sea Reminds Me was the first film to screen and went on to win the Best of Festival Award presented by SDSW Committee member Matthew Wauchope. The afternoon program included an International Showcase of films from the UK based Oska Bright Film Festival and a Filmmakers Forum. The Forum provided an opportunity for the audience to take part in an insightful discussion amongst learning disabled filmmakers, chaired by The Honorable, Kelly Vincent, Member of the Legislative Council.
SDSW Steering Committee members Lee Witczak, Samantha Charles and Ryan Thomas hosted the Red Carpet Awards Presentation that night. Nine Awards were presented to learning disability filmmakers by guest presenters who included The Honorable Kelly Vincent; Joost den Hartog, Director of the Australian International Documentary Conference; and The Honorable Tony Piccolo, SA Minister for Disability, representing The Honorable Jack Snelling, Minister for the Arts. Becky Llewellyn from Arts Access Australia who represented national disability organisation Arts Access Australia and SA’s Access2Arts, commented on South Australia’s vision in leading the sector to establish SDSW as the first learning disability film and new media festival in the Southern Hemisphere, thereby providing a strong platform for learning disabled artists perspectives and storytelling voices to be heard; her comments echoed those made by Arts SA’s Jennifer Layther at the festival opening.
A Best of Fest screening will take place this coming Saturday 8 November 2014 at Adelaide Studios including the 21 finalists plus a showcase of films from the UK’s 2013 Oska Bright Film Festival which was the inspiration for the SDSW Festival. The People’s Choice Award will be presented at the event to the film voted festival favourite by the public. Voting can be done via the SDSW website (below) or through voting cards available on the day.
FINALISTS AWARD WINNER
Best Awareness (Our Story)
A List of Things That Really Annoy Me – Beth Barnard, Wild@Heart Community Arts, Victoria, Australia
Time Slip – Dawn Fuller – Oyster Project, United Kingdom
The Strange Man – Zoe Laidlaw, Actors Ink, South Australia Time Slip – Dawn Fuller – Oyster Project, United Kingdom
Winner: Time Slip
Access2Arts Best Music Video Award Finalists:
The Finalists are:
Alles Fur Alles / Everything For Everyone – Barner 16, Hamburg, Germany
Love Is A Strange Game – Barner 16, Hamburg, Germany
Moon Country – Dream Theatre, Victoria, Australia
Where Have All The Penguins Gone? – Encounter Centre, South Australia Alles Fur Alles / Everything For Everyone – Barner 16, Hamburg, Germany
Winner:
Alles Fur Alles/ Everything for Everyone
Best Animation Award Finalists:
A List of Things That Really Annoy Me – Beth Barnard, Wild@Heart Community Arts, Victoria, Australia
Being Successful – Wild@Heart Community Arts
Café Chat – North Melbourne Institute of Technology (NMIT), Work Education Centre, Victoria, Australia
Penguin & Panda Love Story – Jane Hewitt, Tutti Arts, South Australia Café Chat – North Melbourne Institute of Technology (NMIT), Work Education Centre, Victoria, Australia
Winner: Cafe Chat
SA Film Corporation Most Original Film Award Finalists:
Alles Fur Alles / Everything For Everyone – Barner 16, Hamburg, Germany
Love Is A Strange Game – Barner 16, Hamburg, Germany
Our Story – William Gregory, Tutti Arts, South Australia Our Story – William Gregory, Tutti Arts, South Australia
Winner: Our Story
The Hive Award Finalists:
Arts Project Australia, Victoria, Australia
Encounter Centre, South Australia
North Melbourne Institute of Technology (NMIT) Work Education Centre, Victoria
Tutti Arts Incorporated, South Australia
Wild@Heart Community Arts, Victoria, Australia Wild@Heart Community Arts, Victoria, Australia
Winner:
Wild@Heart
Funniest Film Award Finalists:
Cow Story –Tutti Arts & Clare Film Group Workshop, South Australia
Next Factor – Caleb Rixon, Victoria, Australia
A Penguin & Panda Love Story – Jane Hewitt, Tutti Arts South Australia Next Factor – Caleb Rixon, Victoria, Australia
Winner: Next Factor
Best Special Effects Award Finalists
Eye TV – James Kurtze, Tutti Arts, South Australia
Geister (Ghosts) –David Nenninger/Barner 16, Hamburg Germany
Lisa’s Story – Lisa Reid, Arts Project Australia, Victoria Eye TV – James Kurtze, Tutti Arts, South Australia
Winner: Eye TV
Arts Access Australia Best New Media / Video Art Award Finalists:
Dexter Aliens – James Kurtze, Tutti Arts, South Australia
Geister (Ghosts) –David Nenninger/Barner 16, Hamburg, Germany Dexter Aliens – James Kurtze, Tutti Arts, South Australia
Winner: Dexter Aliens
Best of Festival Finalists:
Joe & Sarah – AbleVision, Ireland
The Sea Reminds Me – Ray Jacobs, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Time Slip – Dawn Fuller/Oyster Project, Ireland The Sea Reminds Me – Ray Jacobs, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Winner: The Sea Reminds Me