Press Release from Queensland Premier and Minister for the Arts, Anna Bligh:
The Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh has congratulated the Queensland Academy of Creative Industries (QACI) for taking out the top award in the secondary school category in the 23rd Warner Roadshow Queensland New Filmmakers Awards (QNFA).
Ms Bligh said the QACI short film, Carpe Diem, about a young girl’s internal struggle to talk to the object of her affections, was named the best overall secondary production in a competitive field.
"With this win QACI is well on its way to developing award-winning creative leaders of tomorrow," Ms Bligh said.
"These awards, coordinated and presented by Pacific Film and Television Commission, are the biggest industry sponsored new filmmaker competition in the country, recognising and encouraging the achievements of emerging Queensland filmmakers.
"Previous QNFA winners have gone on to great success at national and international film festivals, including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
"Ivan Sen, director of Beneath Clouds, which won Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival and at the AFI and IF Awards, was a QNFA winner, as were Michael and Peter Spierig, who have enjoyed international success with their first feature film Undead and are currently working on their second feature film Daybreakers."
Bond University’s Broken Road, about a family camping expedition that prompts a father to reflect on his life, took out Best Overall Production.
Griffith Film School topped tertiary honours, taking out 10 awards, including the coveted best director and producer awards.
Ms Bligh said 28 awards were presented, covering all areas of filmmaking from direction and writing to acting and sound.
More than 160 nominations were received for this year’s awards, with winners selected by a panel of industry judges based on criteria including originality, creativity and technical skill.
Over the last 22 years, judges have viewed over 2000 films and presented over 300 awards of excellence, with a prize pool totalling almost $400 000.
A full list of QNFA winners follows. The QNFA are part of the St. George Bank Brisbane International Film Festival which finishes on 9 August.