Press release from Cardinal Spin
Victorian 15 year-old Simeon Bain has won Trop Jr – the world’s largest short film festival, for kids by kids for his film “Imagine”. Bain takes home a digital video camera, an ABC3 educational filmmaking experience and 1K of AFTRS short film courses as prize booty.
The film deals with a seemingly average teenager who turns into a highly trained special operative after receiving an order from headquarters. Filmed around Melbourne’s CBD and various train stations for $100, Bain is an avid fan of action film and uses some great visual effects.
He also won Trop Jr’s exciting new Onitsuka Tiger Award for fearless filmmaking. As part of the prize Bain will be mentored by a past Tropfest finalist who will help him create a commissioned 3-minute short film inspired by the Onitsuka Tiger brand, as well as taking home a stack of great apparel.
Hannah Wang of ABC3’s Rush TV, Kayne Tremills from Studio 3 on ABC3, Xenia Goodwin from Dance Academy, Packed to the Rafter’s teen heartthrob Ryan Corr and last year’s Trop Jr winner Peter Richardson voted Bain in. The 14 Trop Jr finalist films screened from 12pm with the winner announced in the afternoon.
Youngest finalist 11 year-old Emily Williamson from Mayfield state school in Carina, Queensland came a close second, walking away with a free membership to Metro Screen’s Young Filmmakers Network for one year and $350 worth of Focal Press media and technology books.
Over 4,000 thousand cheering film fans and their families rolled out their picnic blankets in the morning, with ABC hosts and judges Wang, Goodwin and Tremills joining Prank Patrol's Scotty Tweedie to rev up the kids.
Managing Director of Tropfest, Michael Laverty says Trop Jr entries have almost doubled from last year. “These kids have told their unique stories in unusual and experimental ways. We’re just grateful to be able to offer these really talented young filmmakers some very real prizes and opportunities that will make a different to their career,” he says.
“JUICE” was announced the Tropfest Signature Item for 2012’s Trop Jr competition, and organisers expect many among the gathered crowds at Sydney’s Domain, Canberra’s Commonwealth Park, Brisbane’s Suncorp Piazza, and Surfer’s Paradise Circle on Cavill, will take up the challenge next year.