A story of what it means to long for home has taken out Best Australian Short Film at this year’s Flickerfest.
John Harvey’s Katele (Mudskipper), about a Torres Strait Islander woman who is working at her job in a laundromat when a mysterious visitor reminds her of the life she has left behind, took out the main prize at the Academy Award-qualifying awards, as the festival wrapped up its 32nd iteration.
The film was written by Harvey alongside Walter Waia, and produced by Gillian Moody, who accepted the award.
“In times like this, when we’re all stuck inside, I really felt for my Torres Strait Islander friends, who live away from home for work and school,” she said.
“Katele is about that; it’s about a woman that had to live away from home and longed for her home, so thank you.”
Other Australian competition winners on the night included Alec Green and Finbar Watson’s Teacups (Best Australian Animated Short Film), Jayden Rathsam Hua’s Sushi Noh (Best Screenplay in an Australian Short Film), and Vee Shi’s Jia (Best Direction in an Australian Short Film). Further, Victor Ng received Best Cinematography in an Australian Short Film for BLVCK GOLD, James A. Thomas took out Best Editing in an Australian Short Film for Lucky Peach, and James Mountain won Best Original Music in an Australian Short Film for Mudcrab.
Director Alies Sluiter was named Outstanding Emerging Female Director for Myth, an award given in honour of late French-born Australian film director, actress, screenwriter and producer, Samantha Rebillet.
Sunday’s ceremony concluded the ten-day event, which will now undertake a 48-venue national tour to all states and territories across Australia.
The 2023 Flickerfest winners include:
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS
Flickerfest Award for Best International Short Film (Academy® Qualifying)
Born to Cry (France)
Writer/Director: Léo Grandperret | Producer: Eloi Nourry
Yoram Gross Award for Best International Animated Short Film (Academy® Qualifying)
Pina (Belgium/ France)
Director: Jérémy Depuydt, Gieseppe Accardo | Producer: Lucas Tothe, Maxime Feyers,
François-Xavier Willems
EU In Australia Award for Best EU Short Film
Sami’s Fugue (France)
Writer/Director: Vincent Tricon | Producer: Said Hamich, Sophie Penson
Special Jury Prize
48 Hours (Iran)
Writer/Director/Producer: Azadeh Moussavi
RAINBOW LGBTQI COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS
Azure Productions Award for Best Rainbow Short
Starf#ckers (USA)
Writer/Director: Antonio Marziale | Producer: Eli Raskin
EU In Australia Award for Best EU Rainbow Short Film
Warsha (France/ Lebanon)
Writer/Director: Dania Bdeir | Producer: Coralie Dias
Special Mention: for Rainbow Short
Heartbeat (Switzerland)
Writer/Director/Producer: Michèle Fury
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS
Flickerfest Award for Best Documentary Short Film (Academy® Qualifying)
Long Line of Ladies (USA)
Directors: Rayka Zehtabchi, Shaandiin Tome | Producers: Sam A. Davis, Dana Kurth, Garret K Schiff, Pimm Tripp-Allen, Rayka Zehtabchi
Special Mention: for Documentary Short
Away (Hungary/ Portugal/ Belgium)
Writer/Director/Producer: Ruslan Fedotow
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS
Panasonic LUMIX Award for Best Australian Short Film (Academy® Qualifying)
Katele (Mudskipper)
Writer: Walter Waia | Writer/Director: John Harvey | Producer: Gillian Moody
Spectrum Films Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film Director
Vee Shi for Jia
Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Animated Short Film
Teacups
Writer/Director: Alec Green, Finbar Watson | Producer: Alec Green, Finbar Watson, Alan Holly
AFTRS Award for Best Screenplay in an Australian Short Film
Sushi Noh
Writer/ Director/ Producer: Jayden Rathsam Hua | Producer: Philippa Silva
Rebel8 Award for Outstanding Emerging Female Director In honour of Samantha Rebillet
Alies Sluiter for MYTH
John Barry Award for Best Cinematography in an Australian Short Film
Cinematographer
Victor Ng for BLVCK GOLD
Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian Short Film
James A. Thomas for Lucky Peach
Avid Award for Best Original Music in an Australian Short Film Composer
James Mountain for Mud Crab
Special Mentions: for Australian Short Film
boy/beast
Writer/ Director: Andrew Shaw | Producer: Anna Davis
Bangay Lore
Writer: Jahvis Loveday | Director/Producer: Jahvis Loveday, Kiahma O’Donocan
SAE FLICKERUP YOUTH COMPETITION AWARD WINNERS
SAE Creative Media Institute FlickerUp Award for Best Youth Short Film:
The Trials and Tribulations Of Being Jordan
Director/ Writer / Producer: Will Calleja
Special Mention for SAE Creative Media Institute FlickerUp Award for Best Youth Short Film:
Xenos
Director/ Writer / Producer. Koko Crozier & Lily Lunder
Yoram Gross FlickerUp Award for Best Youth Animated Film:
Garden Thief
Director: Year 7 Doveton High
Avid FlickerUp Award for Best Editing in A Youth Short Film:
Thief Vs Thief
Director/ Writer / Producer: Elodie Kliendienst
PS Organic FlickerUp Jury Award for Youth Short Film:
‘Medusa’
Director: Karina Cheun