AFTRS Master of Arts Screen graduates have started 2023 off strong, receiving three major prizes for student films at the 32nd edition of Flickerfest. This follows a bumper year that saw multiple AFTRS films appear in major international festivals such as Cannes and Palm Springs.
After a long trip attending festivals around the globe, Sushi Noh returned home to be awarded Best Screenplay in an Australian Short Film. The Award was presented to student Jayden Rathsam Hüa (Master of Arts Screen: Producing, 2020), who also served as the film’s director and producer, and worked in collaboration with a team of fellow AFTRS Master of Arts Screen grads. Hüa has become familiar with acclaim, having been selected for the Melbourne International Film Festival Accelerator Lab as well as the film earning the ‘Most Bonkers Award’ and ‘Audience Award’ at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. Sushi Noh has already played at film festivals around the globe, such as Encounters (UK), Seattle Film Festival (USA), Atlanta Film Festival (US), the Sydney Film Festival (AU), the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival (IL), Palm Springs International Shortfest (US) and the Yubari International Short Film Festival (JP). Sushi Noh is currently available to stream on MUBI.
David Robinson-Smith’s 2021 MA graduate film Mud Crab has also returned from abroad to receive the Avid Award for Best Original Music in an Australian Short Film, in recognition of the work of composer James Mountain’s (Master of Arts Screen: Directing, 2021). The film recently earned first place in the Asia-Pacific in the 2022 CILECT CAPA Best Film Competition, placing fourth worldwide. Mud Crab saw its worldwide premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2022 and has since screened at Raindance International Film Festival (UK), Aesthetica International Film Festival (UK), Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Freshwave Film Festival (HK). Mud Crab’s next stop is Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and Australian audiences can catch the film streaming on MUBI.
The Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian Short Film was awarded to James A. Thomas (Master of Arts Screen: Editing, 2019) for his work editing 2021 MA film Lucky Peach, directed by Grace Tan. Flickerfest is Lucky Peach’s second festival selection following an appearance at Melbourne International Film Festival.
AFTRS alumni were also recognised during the ceremony, including the Panasonic LUMIX Award for Best Australian Short Film (Academy Qualifying) which went to Katele (Mudskipper), written and directed by John Harvey (Graduate Certificate: Screenwriting & Producing, 2008) and produced by Gillian Moody (TV Training Certificate, 1993).
The Rebel8 Award for Outstanding Emerging Female Director in Honour of Samantha Rebillet went to Alies Sluiter (Master of Arts: Film, Television and Digital Media – Screen Composition, 2005) for MYTH. This follows the film’s sweep of the South Australian Screen Awards, where it claimed the Grand Jury Prize, Best Drama, Best Directing, Best Editing and Best Hair and Makeup.
The Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Animation Short Film was given to Teacups, written, directed and produced by Alec Green (Bachelor of Arts: Production, 2021) alongside Finbar Watson. The film was made thanks to substantial financial backing as part of the Australian Cultural Fund and features Hugo Weaving AO, who voices the film’ lead.
The 32nd annual Flickerfest International and Australian awards were announced in a ceremony on 29 January, following the highly successful 10-day festival at Bondi Pavilion. Flickerfest will now hit the road on a 48-venue national tour to all states and territories across Australia. See the full program here.