Works by AFTRS alumni have been recognised at this year’s St Kilda Film Festival Awards, securing several major prizes across various categories.
This year’s virtual festival showcased the work of over 70 AFTRS alumni across 35 short films, including three AFTRS student productions and 27 premieres.
Jane Cho’s The Egg, edited by Lucas Baynes (Diploma in Editing Fundamentals, 2016) with sound editing by Beth Bezzina (Graduate Diploma in Sound, 2012) and sound effects editing by Andrew Miller (Master of Arts: Film and Television – Sound Design, 2009; Graduate Diploma in Location Sound Recording, 2007) was the hit of the event, sweeping several major categories including Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Young Actor and Best Original Score.
I want to make a film about women, directed, produced and edited by alumna Karen Pearlman, has been honoured with the Best Documentary Award after screening as part of the ‘Shifting the Gaze: Focus on Female Filmmakers’ session. The short also features the work of composer Caitlin Yeo (Graduate Diploma in Screen Composition, 2002) and production designer Valentina Iastrebova (Diploma in Screen Design, 2016).
Another major prize, Best Achievement in Indigenous Filmmaking, went to alumnus John Harvey (Graduate Certificate: Screen Drama – Screenwriting & Producing, 2008) for his work as director of Out of Range.
Other alumni works recognised on the night include Chris Elena’s Audio Guide, produced by Kym Vaitiekus (Bachelor of Arts (Film and Television) Camera, 1988), which won Best Achievement in Screenplay as well as Charby Ibrahim’s Bright Lights – The Perils of the Pokies executive produced by Jennifer Peedom (Master of Screen Arts and Business, 2017), which won Best Achievement in Sound Post Production.
See the full list of 2020 St Kilda Film Festival winners here.
Full list of alumni winners
BEST SHORT FILM
The Egg
Director: Jane Cho
Editor: Lucas Baynes (Diploma in Editing Fundamentals, 2016)
Sound editor: Beth Bezzina (Graduate Diploma in Sound, 2012)
Sound effects editor: Andrew Miller (Master of Arts: Film and Television – Sound Design, 2009; Graduate Diploma in Location Sound Recording, 2007)
BEST DIRECTOR
The Egg
BEST DOCUMENTARY
I want to make a film about women
Director/producer/editor: Karen Pearlman (Master of Arts (Film & Television) Editing, 2000)
Music: Caitlin Yeo (Graduate Diploma in Screen Composition, 2002)
Production design: Valentina Iastrebova (Diploma in Screen Design, 2016)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN INDIGENOUS FILMMAKING
Out of Range
Dir. John Harvey (Graduate Certificate: Screen Drama – Screenwriting & Producing, 2008)
BEST YOUNG ACTOR
The Egg
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Egg (composer: Piers Burbrook de Vere)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENPLAY
Audio Guide (writer: Lee Zachariah)
Dir. Chris Elena
Producer: Kym Vaitiekus (Bachelor of Arts (Film and Television) Camera, 1988)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND POST PRODUCTION
Bright Lights – The Perils of the Pokies
Director: Charby Ibrahim
EP: Jennifer Peedom (Master of Screen Arts and Business, 2017)