[press release from Liquid Ideas]
Amateur film writer Van Badham is celebrating yet another success in her short film writing career after picking up two awards for Best Production Design and Best Music at the 2009 Bondi Short Film Festival on Saturday night.
Badham’s script Octopus, was one of three films to be produced by Jameson Irish Whiskey’s film production arm John Jameson Productions which premiered alongside two other short films at a gala event in Sydney in November.
Badham said receiving the awards from one of Australia’s pre-eminent short film festivals and a judging panel that included Academy Award winning director Bruce Beresford was completely unexpected.
“When I first entered the John Jameson Productions Scriptwriting Competition back in February I had no idea I would have a professionally produced short film in my CV by the end of the year, let alone an award-winning one!” Badham said.
“Winning the John Jameson Productions Scriptwriting Competition has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for me as a scriptwriter.”
To enter the competition Badham submitted a short 200-word synopsis for a short film with an “unexpected” ending via the John Jameson Productions website: www.johnjameosnproductions.com.au .
From more than 450 entries, Badham’s script, along with those by two other emerging film writers — Ian Thompson and William Howarth — were selected as winners and were given the services of some brilliant film-making talent and a $20,000 budget to make their ideas for a three minute film come to life.
On completion, all three films were entered in the Bondi Short Film Festival and both Badham’s Octopus and Thomson’s Multiple Choice were short-listed among the 15 finalists selected from more than 190 entries in the competition.
All three films will continue to be screened at film festivals throughout 2009 including Bondi’s Flickerfest which runs from January 9-29, the nationally acclaimed Tropfest on February 22, and the St Kilda Film Festival from May 26-31.
Jameson Irish Whiskey Brand Manager Monica Hart said the short films and the John Jameson Productions initiative were an integral part of the brand’s ongoing relationship with film in Australia.
“Jameson Irish Whiskey is committed to supporting emerging film talent in Australia and the John Jameson Productions Scriptwriting Competition is our primary vehicle for demonstrating that support,” Hart said.
The 2009 John Jameson Productions Scriptwriting Competition is now open and all aspiring writers over the age of 18 are encouraged to enter.
“We look forward to discovering new talent within the industry for many years to come,” she said.