‘The Projectionist’
Marcus McKenzie’s The Projectionist won five prizes at the 21st annual South Australian Screen Awards, which celebrate the best short works made by the state’s up-and-coming filmmakers.
Starring Chris Haywood as a recently widowed pensioner who discovers he can travel into the world of his old Super 8mm home movies, McKenzie’s film collected the awards for best male performance, editing (Daniel Principe), production design (Annalisa Francesca), hair and make-up (Bec Buratto) and music composition (Chris Larkin).
Sam Matthews’ Unboxed, where six gender diverse artists share their experiences while creating an artwork based on the theme “unboxed” won the Grand Jury Prize and best documentary. Rebecca Elliott, who produced the doco with Kirsty Stark, took home the emerging producer award.
The second annual presentation of the Mercury Award, a $3,000 cash prize, which celebrates an individual’s outstanding achievement and contribution to the SA film industry, went to esteemed casting director Angela Heesom.
The director of SA’s leading casting agency Heesom Casting, Angela has more than 30 years’ industry experience. Her credits include Hunting, Danger 5, Wolf Creek TV, Deadline Gallipoli, ANZAC Girls, Wolf Creek parts 1 and 2, Look Both Ways and Beautiful Kate.
“Angela’s intelligence, integrity, and boundless energy as well as her willingness to share her precious time with not only international-scale directors and producers but with local short filmmakers embarking on their first production, has made her a beloved and integral part of the South Australian screen industry and a cherished colleague and mentor,” said Media Resource Centre director Gail Kovatseff.
Other winners included Victoria Cocks’ Davi, which was named best drama and best sound design (Justin Astbury). Jeremy Kelly-Bakkers and Tom Phillips’ Lucy & DiC received the best web series and best screenplay prizes.
Albert Jamae and Charlotte Rose’s Red Wire Blue Wire was judged best comedy while best music video went to Alex Salkicevic and Bryce Kraehenbuehl’s video for Young Offenders’ “You Be You.”
‘Unboxed’
The awards were presented on April 18 at the Mercury Cinema in Adelaide, where Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said the winning films represent a slice of the emerging talent that South Australia has to offer.
“The State Government is a strong supporter of the local screen industry and through initiatives like the Post Production Digital and Visual Effects rebate, South Australia is recognised as a leading destination for screen production both nationally and internationally,” he said.
BEST DRAMA
Davi
Producer. Anna Bardsley-Jones; Director & Writer. Victoria Cocks
BEST WEB SERIES
Lucy & DiC
Producer & Writer. Tom Phillips; Director & Writer. Jeremy Kelly-Bakker
BEST COMEDY
Red Wire Blue Wire
Producer. Michael Zeitz; Producer & Writer. Albert Jamae; Producer & Director. Charlotte Rose
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Unboxed
Producers. Rebecca Elliott & Kirsty Stark; Director & Writer. Sam Matthews
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
“You Be You” – Young Offenders
Producer, Director & Writer. Alex Salkicevic & Bryce Kraehenbuehl; Producer. Catherine Frances
CRAFT CATEGORIES
BEST SCREENPLAY
Lucy & DiC
Tom Phillips & Jeremy Kelly-Bakker
BEST DIRECTING
Safe Space
Indianna Bell & Josiah Allen
BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
The Projectionist
Chris Haywood
BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
The Way
Rose Riley
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Way
Aaron Schuppan
BEST EDITING
The Projectionist
Daniel Principe
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Projectionist
Annalisa Francesca
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Davi
Justin Astbury
BEST HAIR & MAKE UP
The Projectionist
Bec Buratto
BEST COSTUME
They Sleep Inside Your Head
Lauren Brice
BEST MUSIC COMPOSITION
The Projectionist
Chris Larkin
EMERGING PRODUCER
Rebecca Elliott
YOUNG FILMMAKER AWARD
Indianna Bell & Josiah Allen