Press Release from Edelman Public Relations
The Australia Day Council of NSW (ADCNSW) yesterday announced Michael Allen’s Something Australia as the film that best sums up ‘Who We Are’ are as a nation, naming this film the winner of the Reel Australia short film competition.
The ADCNSW competition, proudly supported by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), called on all Australians to grab their video cameras to explore and share their interpretations of ‘Who We Are’ as a nation in a two minute film.
The film was unanimously selected by a stellar judging panel comprising actors Gyton Grantley and Deborah Mailman and director Ray Lawrence. Focusing on Aquinas Crowe, a Walmajarri/Jaru man of Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley, W.A, the entry aims to draw the viewer into his personal experience of Australia, and was the culmination of a year-long working relationship and friendship between the pair.
Commenting on his winning entry, Allen said: “I wanted to make a film that made two offerings. First, an intimate window into one man’s individual world within Australia; and secondly, a wider statement that the real Australia is not one finite thing, but rather that it is a melting pot of diverse narratives, histories, cultures, ideas and beliefs . This innate diversity is what injects Australia with its profound richness.”
The judges commented that it was Something Australia’s honest and raw interpretation that made it a clear winner.
According to judge Gyton Grantley, “There’s no right answer to the question ‘what is the real Australia’ but the honesty and insight into Aquinas’ world was captivating. The film draws audiences into Aquinas’ personal experiences as an Australian, while also demonstrating the many layers of our nation’s cultural identity.”
Allen received $5,000 in cash, which he has shared with the film’s star, Aquinas Crowe. Allen has also won the opportunity to attend the 2011 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards with three friends, and will have his winning film showcased at Australia Day events across the country.
“Winning the Reel Australia competition is a huge thrill for both of us. The competition is a brilliant and important concept, as it encourages people to consider important questions about our nation’s identity and sense of self,” said Allen.
In addition to the Reel Australia announcement, the ADCNSW and Australia Post were also pleased to announce that five finalist images from the Living Australian online photography competition will be showcased in a special Living Australian Stamp Series. The Stamp Series includes images captured by Ann Clarke (SA), Jackie Hewett (NSW), Katelyn Wall (QLD), Suzanne Wilson (NSW) and Amanda Morrison (ACT).
This money can’t buy Living Australian Stamp Series has allowed everyday Aussies to proudly showcase what it means to live as an Australian and will be circulated nationally in mid 2011.
This national competition, supported by Australia Post, attracted a staggering 3,350 inspirational entries from around the country.