AFTRS’ Head of Cinematography and alum, Kim Batterham has received the Australian Cinematographers Society’s prestigious Life Membership Award in celebration of his work and contribution to the craft of cinematography in Australia.
The award was presented to Batterham during the annual National Australian Cinematographers Society Awards held on 1 May at The National Gallery in Canberra. Ten AFTRS students and alumni were also recognised, earning major prizes across 10 categories on the night.
Graduating the Bachelor of Arts (Film & Television), in 1978, Batterham’s award-winning career spanning over 25 years has seen him work on a range of feature, television and documentary productions including Master and Commander, McLeod’s Daughters, The Bill, Rachel Perkins’ (Specialist Extension Course Certificate Producing, 1995) One Night The Moon, Black Panther Woman and First Australians and more.
Kim Batterham, captured during his time studying at AFTRS
He began as an AFTRS lecturer and subject leader in cinematography in 2009, was appointed the position of AFTRS’ Head of Cinematography in 2016 and continues to work in the role as a mentor to Australia’s best and brightest emerging cinematographers.
Also receiving special honours at the National awards was AFTRS alum and ACS QLD Vice President, Erika Addis (Graduate Certificate: Teaching Creative Practice, 2010), who was awarded the Ron Windon ACS Contribution Award.
Denson Baker (Graduate Diploma of Arts (Film & Television) Cinematography, 2000) claimed two of the ceremony’s top gongs: the Cinematographer of the Year Milli Award and the Gold Tripod in the Drama Series category for his work on The luminaires. Zoë White (Master of Arts: Film and Television Cinematography, 2008), was recognised alongside Baker in the Drama Series category, receiving the Award of Distinction for her work on Westworld.
Dion Beebe ACS ASC (Bachelor of Arts (Film & Television) Cinematography, 1989) earned the Gold Tripod in the Feature Films – Budget $2m and Over category for I Am Woman, while Joel Froome claimed the Award of Distinction in Feature Films – Budget Under $2m for Molto Bella. Judd Overton (Master of Arts (Film and Television) Cinematography, 2003) won the Award of Distinction in the Serial TV and Comedy Series category for his work on No Activity.
Claiming the Commercials National/International category were James Brown (Graduate Diploma: Cinematography, 2009), winning Gold for Glenlivet’s Breaking Walls and Sherwin Akbarzadeh (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2011), receiving the Award of Distinction for Mercedes-Benz EQS / Lewis Hamilton. The Award of Distinction in Commercials – Local/Regional went to Alex Serafini (Graduate Certificate in Cinematography Fundamentals, 2013) for the Sydney Opera House’s Where Inspiration Lives.
Ben Cotgrove (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2014) won Gold in Corporate – Branded Content, Education & Events for his work with Restaurant Labart, while Boris Vymenets (Master of Screen Arts, 2010) received the Award of Distinction in Music Videos for Outta My Head by New World Sound ft. J2 and Sarah Phillips.
The work of third-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production student David Luff was also celebrated, earning him the Gold Plaque in Student Cinematography for Memoir.
A recording of the ceremony is available to view here.
See the full list of winners for 2021
AFTRS Staff and Alumni winners at the 2021 ACS National Awards
Life Membership Award: Kim Batterham ACS (Bachelor of Arts (Film & Television), 1978)
Ron Windon ACS Contribution Award: Erika Addis (Graduate Certificate: Teaching Creative Practice, 2010)
Student Cinematography
Gold Plaque: David Luff (current Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production student), Memoir
Music Video
Award of Distinction: Boris Vymenets (Master of Screen Arts, 2010), New World Sound ft. J2 and Sarah Phillips – Outta My Head
Corporate – Branded Content, Education & Events
Gold Tripod: Ben Cotgrove (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2014), Restaurant Labart
Commercials – National/International
Gold Tripod: James Brown (Graduate Diploma: Cinematography, 2009), Glenlivet – Breaking Walls
Award of Distinction: Sherwin Akbarzadeh (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2011), Mercedes-Benz EQS / Lewis Hamilton
Commercials – Local/Regional
Award of Distinction: Alex Serafini (Graduate Certificate in Cinematography Fundamentals, 2013), Opera House – Where Inspiration Lives
Serial TV and Comedy Series
Award of Distinction: Judd Overton (Master of Arts (Film and Television) Cinematography, 2003), No Activity, Ep 308: Oops Sorry
Drama Series
Gold Tripod: Denson Baker ACS NZCS (Graduate Diploma of Arts (Film & Television) Cinematography, 2000), The Luminaries, Ep2: The Place You Return
Award of Distinction: Zoë White ACS (Master of Arts: Film and Television Cinematography, 2008), Westworld, S3Ep5: Genre
Feature Films – Budget Under $2m
Award of Distinction: Joel Froome ACS (Graduate Diploma: Cinematography, 2009), Molto Bella
Feature Films – Budget $2m and Over
Gold Tripod: Dion Beebe ACS ASC (Bachelor of Arts (Film & Television) Cinematography, 1989) I Am Woman
Drama Series
Cinematographer of the Year Milli Award: Denson Baker ACS NZCS (Graduate Diploma of Arts (Film & Television) Cinematography, 2000), The Luminaries, Ep2: The Place You Return
