Port Shorts filmmakers world class: Curry
FILM FESTIVAL
A hugely talented teenager who produced a stunning journey through the galaxy from his bedroom has earned the honour of being named the 2016 Port Shorts Open Filmmaker Awards winner.
Port Shorts Ambassadors and Judges Stephen Curry, Matt Hearn and Kier Shorey gave a standing ovation to the quality of the 50-plus short films that screened to an audience of over 700 people under the stars over two fabulous nights in tropical Port Douglas on October 28-29 for the 2016 Port Shorts Film Festival.
“You would not get a better quality short film festival anywhere in the world and the audience really appreciated the what they were experiencing,” Curry said.
“From the high school students to some very accomplished filmmakers from around the world, you really got a sense that you were watching the best of what’s coming next in film ... and the future looks bloody great, especially from Port Douglas.”
Perth 17-year-old Radheya Jegatheva won the $5000 first prize for his epic Journey, vindicating his decision to pursue his passion for animation and filmmaking, with the judges hugely excited by his talent.
Wolf Creek Executive Producer Matt Hearn said Radheya’s brilliant score he composed to complement his amazing visual Journey transformed the audience as well as judges.
“He applied some clever techniques over multiple layers to create a really beautiful short film and to be honest we initially found it hard to believe such an incredible production was created by a 17-year-old in his bedroom,” Hearn said.
“The judges were delighted to speak with him and his family on the phone straight away he was announced as the winner, his dad loaned him the $25 to enter so he’s ended up with a pretty good return and Radheya’s journey has only just begun, he’s got a huge future and we’ll certainly do what we can to open some doors for him.”
Proving that you can never be too cool for the tropics, David Hansen’s super stylish Slingshot won over audiences to earn him the well-deserved People’s Choice award while reef expert John Rumney’s sad but spectacular exploration of an old friend earned him the Port Shorts Local Filmmaker Award and the $2000 prize with The Monolith (watch it below).
Ambassador Kier Shorey said judges were impressed by the filmmaking future showcased at the 2016 Port Shorts Young Filmmaker Awards.
“It’s great to see so many fantastic short films from such a diverse collection of young filmmakers,” Shorey said.
“They managed to tell some compelling stories, make us think or give us a few laughs and that’s what producing short films for a broad audience is all about.”
Oliver Marsden picked up his second Port Shorts Young Filmmaker Awards Short Narrative major prize of a Panasonic Lumix GH-4 for his slick superhero tale The Adventures of Mr Muscular & Sidekick Boy, Fynnian Lawson cracked up audiences with his winning Music Video parody How Clean is Your Hair and US filmmaker Michael Escobar picked up Best Microdoco for Freerunner.
Vasco Gonsalves collected the PSYFA People’s Choice Award with United.
Festival Director Alison George said organisers wanted to say a huge thanks to filmmakers, audiences, sponsors and Ambassadors for contributing to such a fabulous 2016 Port Shorts Film Festival.
“We knew we had an awesome show and we wanted to deliver audiences an experience to match it,” George said.
“We couldn’t have been happier to see so many people absorbing what was an an amazing line-up of short films.
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“It was great fun and we can’t wait for next year.”
Port Shorts Young Filmmakers Awards Director Elliot Davidson said it was remarkable to watch an audience gaining such an insight into the talent and depth of young people.
“As we saw at the PSYFA on Friday night, providing these young people with a ‘stage’ so to speak, benefits us all,” he said.
