PRESS RELEASE
The 61st Sydney Film Festival is pleased to announce a new awards partnership with the Documentary Australia Foundation.
The Documentary Australia Foundation will award the $10,000 Australian Documentary Prize to an Australian documentary screening in the 2014 Sydney Film Festival this June. The winning film will be announced during the Closing Night Gala on Sunday 15 June at the State Theatre.
“Australian documentary makers tackle the past, the contentious, and the remarkable,” said Festival Director, Nashen Moodley. “In 2014, Documentary Australia Foundation steps up to support this competition, now in its sixth year, which showcases the best of Oz docs on the big screen.”
Documentary Australia Foundation is a unique organisation that connects philanthropy and filmmaking, creating engaged audiences and inspiring them with new partnerships that are working towards real social change.
“Australia has a long and proud tradition of documentary filmmaking. This award acknowledges the passion and commitment of our documentary filmmakers, who provide the window through which we witness the beauty, tragedy and wonder of our collective humanity,” said Documentary Australia Foundation CEO, Dr Mitzi Goldman. “We are excited about extending our support for Australian documentary filmmaking by partnering with Sydney Film Festival and this important award."
Since its opening year in 1954, the Sydney Film Festival has showcased Australian documentary filmmaking. Now in its sixth year, Australian documentaries of any length compete for a $10,000 Australian Documentary Prize awarded at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony at the State Theatre on Sunday 15 June.
Previous winners of the Australian Documentary Prize at Sydney Film Festival include; Buckskin (2013), Killing Anna (2012), Life in Movement (2011), The Snowman (2010), in 2009 the prize was shared between Contact and A Good Man (each film received a $10,000 cash prize).
The 61st Sydney Film Festival runs this 4-15 June bringing a packed program of screenings and special events to even more venues across Sydney. The full program will be announced on Wednesday 7 May 2014. For tickets and full up-to-date program information please visit sff.org.au.
ABOUT DOCUMENTARY AUSTRALIA FOUNDATION
Documentary Australia Foundation (DAF) brings philanthropists and filmmakers together to create social change. DAF fosters creative partnerships with documentary storytelling at its core, working with filmmakers to create social action campaigns. DAF is Australia’s only independent, non-profit initiative enabling private funding for cultural and social impact documentary filmmaking, and has facilitated funding for more than 600 projects from hundreds of private donors since opening its doors in November 2008.
Info: documentaryaustralia.com.au
ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animated films across the city at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, the Apple Store, SFFTV at Martin Place, Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, and the Festival Hub at Town Hall.
The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. For more information visit www.sff.org.au
Sydney Film Festival also presents 12 films that vie for the Official Competition, a highly respected international honour that awards a $60,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize winners include: Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011) – which went on to win an Academy Award, Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008).
The 61st Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia, and the City of Sydney.
The Festival’s Strategic partner is the NSW Government through Destination NSW.
What: Sydney Film Festival
When: 4-15 June, 2014
Tickets & Info: 1300 733 733 sff.org.au