Press release from John Jameson Productions
From over 800 entries the six finalists have been announced for the annual JOHN JAMESON PRODUCTIONS Short Screenplay Competition.
JOHN JAMESON PRODUCTIONS is an initiative of Jameson Irish Whiskey, to give creative minds and emerging filmmakers the opportunity to have their great idea made into a short film. Applicants were required to write a 200-word synopsis of their short film idea, with the only criteria being that the film must have an “unexpected ending”.
With a ten year history of supporting international film and the creative process, Jameson launched the initiative at Tropfest in February 2008. With a judging panel comprising industry luminaries including director DARREN ASHTON (Thunderstruck, Razzle Dazzle), actor ROY BILLING (Underbelly, The Dish), writer/producer ANNA-MARIA MONTICELLI
(La Spagnola, Disgrace) leading film journalist and editor of Urban Cinefile ANDREW URBAN and esteemed scriptwriter JAN SARDI (Mao’s Last Dancer, The Notebook). The six finalists (with seven great ideas) are:
From NSW
RAEN FRASER “COCKROACH”
ADAM HODGKISS “TEDDY BEAR”
From VIC
ANDY MUIR “NOCTURNAL PEST”
HUGH JELLIE “FETCH” and “GETAWAY”
(with 2 script ideas in the finals)
From QLD
DANIEL MORETTI “FIRST IMPRESSION”
KATRINA GRAHAM “ANASTAZY”
Of the six finalists, three screenplays and their writers will be announced on Thursday 14 May as the winners of the 2009 competition.
Each of the three winners will be given the opportunity to have their short screenplay made into a 3 minute film by production partners CREAM, with individual producer/director teams assigned, with a production budget of $20,000 each. This year the directors are award winning commercials director Marcus Hamill, Tropfest winner Luke Eve (2005) and Tropfest runner-up and winner of Best Comedy Abe Forsythe (2009), overseen by executive director Darren Ashton.
The three films will go into production during the middle of the year and will premiere in September. Each winner will then be further supported by John Jameson Productions for entries into Australian and international film festivals.
John Jameson Productions Short Screenplay competition is sponsored by CREAM and Jameson Irish Whiskey and has received the support of AFTRS, AWG, ADG and SPAA.
Jameson is involved with film activity in 21 countries around the world, including the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards, Bangkok International Film Festival, the Jameson Luxury Lounge at the Toronto International Film Festival, the UK Empire Awards, Tropfest, Flickerfest, St Kilda Film Festival, Canberra Short Film Festival and Bondi Short Film Festival, to name but a few.