Sequin in a Blue Room, the graduate feature film of Samuel Van Grinsven (Master of Arts Screen, 2018) is nominated for an AACTA Award in the Best Indie Film Category.
The film was one of 34 features to be longlisted in this category, of which five made the final cut. Sequin… will be competing against heavy hitters Emu Runner (produced by alumnus John Fink), Buoyancy, Book Week and Acute Misfortune for the prize.
https://www.facebook.com/sequininablueroom/photos/a.224090034803740/524006241478783/?type=3&theater
The feature, which is the directorial debut of 2018 MA graduate Samuel Van Grinsven, had its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival – where it took out the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature after two sell-out screenings and a standing ovation – and has since been on a world tour winning over audiences and garnering international acclaim.
“Waking up to this news this morning has been nothing short of surreal, we could not be happier. It's fantastic to be nominated alongside four films that we've shared the festival circuit with this year, all of which push the possibilities of Australian indie filmmaking forward. We are also incredibly proud to be representing new Australian queer voices on the AACTA stage.”
Samuel Van Grinsven, Director Sequin in a Blue Room
Co-written by Samuel and LA-based screenwriter Jory Anast, Sequin in a Blue Room was produced by fellow AFTRS alum Sophie Hattch (Bachelor of Arts Screen, 2017).
It was created with a team of fellow AFTRS alumni including associate producer Linus Gibson (Bachelor of Arts Screen, 2017), cinematographer Jay Grant (Graduate Certificate in Cinematography Fundamentals, 2014), second unit DP/first AC Carina Burke (Graduate Certificate Screen: Cinematography, 2017), editor Tim Guthrie (Master of Arts Screen, 2018) – who is nominated for an Australian Screen Editors Guild Ellie Award – composer Brent Williams (Master of Arts Screen, 2016), costume designer William Tran Bachelor of Arts Screen, 2017) and more.
Congratulations to Sam, Team Sequin and all the AFTRS staff whose contributions made this wonderful film possible.
See the full list of AACTA nominees here.
Sequin in a Blue Room credits
Director, Screenwriter: Samuel Van Grinsven (Master of Arts Screen, 2018)
Screenwriter: Jory Anast
First assistant director: Stephanie Stretton
Producer: Sophie Hattch (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017)
Associate producer: Linus Gibson (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017)
Cinematographer: Jay Grant (Graduate Certificate in Cinematography Fundamentals, 2014)
Additional cinematography: Carina Burke (Graduate Certificate Screen: Cinematography, 2017)
1st AC: Dan Abbot (Graduate Certificate in Cinematography, 2014)
Steadicam: Jason Rodrigues
Gaffer: Nicholas Gascoine
Editor: Tim Guthrie (Master of Arts Screen, 2018)
Composer: Brent Williams (Master of Arts Screen, 2016)
Costume designer: William Tran (Bachelor of Arts (Screen), 2017)
Production designer: Anna Gardiner
Sound supervisor: Audrey Houssard (Graduate Diploma in Sound, 2014)
Motion graphics: Chris Johns
H&M: Oliver Levi-Malouf (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2018)