From more than 130 entries, Aaron Carroll’s While the Cat’s Away…, Tania Verbeeck’s Women Take on Nepal and Peter Tautua’s Dearest Madeline are the winners of the inaugural Sony Film Festival.
The festival recognises filmmakers from Australia and New Zealand. Judges include
Peter James, ACS, ASC (non-fiction category), Sony Music Australia (music category) and Peter Rabbit director Will Gluck (fiction category).
Sony head of digital imaging ANZ Jun Yoon said: “I’m blown away by the talented filmmakers that entered our inaugural Sony Film Festival. The passion and dedication of these storytellers is evident in the work they submitted. Congratulations to everyone who worked on these amazing films and especially to the three winning films and their crew. The Australian and New Zealand film industry is in good hands!”
Watch all the winning and finalist films here. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is open now, with the opportunity to win a pair of Sony noise cancelling headphones (RRP Value $619.95).
Film details:
While the Cat’s Away…
While waiting for her beloved Brad to arrive home late from work, Sarah spends her night the only way she knows how. From tedious household chores that are undone moments later, to spontaneous dance numbers and movie re-enactments in front of the mirror, finally ending her night with some well-earned pampering. It’s an uneventful night of boredom and procrastination, while waiting to give her darling man a late night surprise.
Women Take on Nepal
Women Take on Nepal takes you on the journey of three young, strong, resilient women who have fought the odds of being a female in Nepal through their determination to empower other Nepalese women through trekking in the Himalayas which is frowned upon by the Nepalese trekking community. It shares the stories of the trekking company ‘Take on Nepal’ founders Som Tamang and Susan Devitt’s purpose behind their passion to provide freedom for the girls from Batase village.
Dearest Madeline
Dearest Madeline uses a song written by music artist Pika Ocho, and tells the story of his mother, Sina, a migrant from Samoa who settled in Auckland, New Zealand, to start a new life for her two sons and husband. Inspired by the true story, this music video is about Sina’s life that was suddenly turned upside down when she realises the husband she loved and adored, reveals himself to be a narcissist and her abuser in a domestic violence relationship.