Pursekey Productions director and principal producer Michaela Perske is the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) Stanley Hawes Award recipient for 2021.
Perske’s recognition was announced today alongside the 20 nominees for the inaugural AIDC awards.
Designed to recognise the “outstanding completed works of new Australian documentary and factual content”, the awards will be presented in person across eight cities, as well as livestreamed to AIDC delegates.
Originally trained as a journalist, Perske has over 20 years of media experience across radio, print and TV.
Since turning her hand to factual content, she has produced films including Girls Can’t Surf, Black Divaz, After the Apology, and Destination Arnold.
In announcing the award, the AIDC said it wanted to acknowledge “her outstanding contribution to the Australian documentary and factual sector”.
Australian practitioners had the opportunity to submit across six categories for the AIDC Awards: Best Feature Documentary, with a $5,000 cash prize presented by Doc Play; Best Documentary/Factual Series; Best Documentary/Factual Single; Best Short-Form Documentary, with a $5,000 cash prize presented by Documentary Australia Foundation; Best Audio Documentary with a $3,000 cash prize presented by AFTRS; and Best Interactive/Immersive Documentary with a $3,000 cash prize co-presented by Jumpgate and Deakin University.
AIDC CEO/conference director Alice Burgin said the response had “absolutely overwhelming” across the board.
“We were astounded by how many submissions we had and the incredible quality of works across the six categories,” she said.
“I want to congratulate the 20 nominees, and thank all our generous partners and the indefatigable jury – without whom we could never have done this.”
‘Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra’
The full list of nominees:
BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Australian Dream
Daniel Gordon, Good Thing Productions & Passion Pictures, Australia/UK, 2019.
Brazen Hussies
Catherine Dwyer, Philippa Campey, Andrea Foxworthy, Film Camp, Australia, 2020.
Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra
Nel Minchin, Wayne Blair, Ivan O’Mahoney, In Films, Australia, 2020. The Leunig Fragments Kasimir Burgess, Philippa Campey, Film Camp, Australia, 2019.
BEST DOCUMENTARY/FACTUAL SERIES
Love on the Spectrum
Cian O’Clery, Jenni Wilks, Karina Holden, Northern Pictures Australia, 2019.
Miriam Margolyes Almost Australian
Liz Allen, Ross Wilson, Laurie Critchley, Southern Pictures, Australia, 2020.
Revelation
Nial Fulton and Sarah Ferguson, In Films, Australia, 2020
BEST DOCUMENTARY/FACTUAL SINGLE
FREEMAN
Laurence Billiet in collaboration with Stephen Page, General Strike & Matchbox Pictures, Australia, 2020.
Maralinga Tjarutja
Larissa Behrendt, Darren Dale, Jacob Hickey, Blackfella Films, Australia, 2020.
Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky
Steven McGregor, Steven Oliver, Anna Grieve, Danielle McLean, Steve Thomas, Kath Symmons, Tamarind Tree Pictures & Roar Film, Australia, 2020.
BEST SHORT-FORM DOCUMENTARY
The Loop
Johanis Lyons-Reid, Lorcan Hopper, Tallstoreez Productionz Pty Ltd & Change Media, Australia, 2020.
My Body Says
Loani Arman, Danielle Redford, Kim Vecera, Mama Bear Productions, Australia, 2020.
Sidelines
Eliya Cohen, Paul Moran, Electric Yak, Australia, 2019
BEST AUDIO DOCUMENTARY
The Eleventh
Alex Mann, ABC Audio Studios, Australia, 2020
Trace: The Informer
Rachael Brown, Josie Taylor, Tim Roxburgh, Martin Peralta, ABC Audio News and Current Affairs, Australia, 2020.
Unravel True Crime: Snowball
Ollie Wards, ABC Audio Studios, Australia, 2019.
BEST INTERACTIVE/IMMERSIVE DOCUMENTARY
ecosphere
Joseph Purdam, PHORIA, Australia, USA, United Kingdom, 2020.
Mt Resilience
Emma Morris, PHORIA & ABC in partnership with CSIRO & BOM, Australia, 2020.
Story Line
Mike Clay, Rebecca Metcalf, John-Paul Marin, The Feed & SBS Creative Labs, Australia, 2020
Click here to learn more about the nominees.
AIDC runs February 28 – March 3 as an online event.