Melbourne International Film Festival has announced a total prize pool of over $300,000 across a suite of six award categories, together with the juries and nominees for two significant competition awards: the inaugural First Nations Film Creative Award in collaboration with Kearney Group, and the return of the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award recognising an outstanding Australian creative within a film playing in the MIFF 2023 program.
The newly shared award nominees join the line-up of films already announced for the Bright Horizons Competition, MIFF’s recently established breakthrough filmmaking prize.
Championing first and second-time directors, the Bright Horizons Competition awards a $140,000 prize to the winning filmmaker, supported by VicScreen, making it one of the most substantial film prizes in the world.
Winners across long-form awards categories will be announced at the Closing Night Gala event, on Saturday, August 19, including the recipient of the much-loved MIFF Audience Award, which gives punters the chance to vote for their favourite flick from across the program.
“MIFF is a space that presents world class cinema to Melbourne, and with our Film Awards in 2023, we continue to recognise and reward the talents of the screen industry who compel our cinema-going,” says Al Cossar, Artistic Director.
“The MIFF film awards recognise and amplify the vitality of our screen industry, and those who move it forward; from the Bright Horizons Competition as a space for global breakthrough, to the recognition and celebration of excellence in craft amongst individual screen practitioners, in the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award and First Nations Film Award, with generous support from the Kearney Group.
“Not to mention our own MIFF-fluencers – our festival audience – crowning their own via our annual Audience Award. We stand in awe of our competing films and our shortlisted nominees, and congratulate all.”
MIFF has celebrated and promoted the talents of First Nations storytellers on titles including Sweet As (MIFF 2022), The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson (MIFF 2021) and Bran Nue Dae (MIFF 2009).
Transforming this commitment with formal industry recognition and significant financial reward, the inaugural First Nations Film Creative Award supports First Nations talent and storytelling with the recipient awarded a $20,000 cash prize and $25,000 worth of financial services in collaboration with Kearney Group.
The pool of award contenders are drawn from across all film creative departments including directing, producing, screenwriting, composing, editing, cinematography, acting, production design, art direction and sound design.
The nominees of the First Nations Film Creative Award are:
• John Harvey – Katele (Mudskipper) – Director
• Lelarnie Hatfield-Yasso, Aunty Nicky Hatfield and Margaret Hornagold – Generations of Men – Screenwriters
• Derik Lynch and Matthew Thorne – Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) – Co-Directors
• Adrian Russell Wills and Gillian Moody – Kindred – Co-Directors
• Tyson Mowarin and Mark Coles Smith – Keeping Hope – Director, Featured subject
• Douglas Watkin – Rebel with a Cause: Neville Bonner – Director
The first-time prize will be awarded to the creative deemed to have demonstrated excellence and commitment in their relevant craft, with the eventual winner selected by a film jury of celebrated Australian First Nations creatives including Yidinji, Meriam woman and esteemed actor and director Rachael Maza (Radiance, Cosi, Lillian’s Story); Yorta Yorta, Wurundjeri (Woiwurrung) acclaimed screen and stage practitioner and Birrangga Film Festival Artistic Director, Tony Briggs (The Sapphires, The Warriors, Force of Nature); and Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung artist, academic and director Tiriki Onus (Ablaze, MIFF 2021).
Of the new award, Rachael Maza said; “I’m very proud and inspired by this next generation of incredible First Nation film makers. I’d like to acknowledge MIFF and the Kearney Group in establishing this Award in recognition of these artists who will be our future leading storytellers. It’s an honor to be a part of the jury.”
“Congratulations to each of the extraordinary talents nominated this year,” says Paul Kearney, Founder and CEO of Kearney Group. “We are incredibly proud to partner with MIFF and present the inaugural First Nations Film Creative Award.
“This award is a celebration of talent, creativity and the 65,000+ year legacy of storytelling within Australian First Nations communities. “We believe in the power of storytelling and the transformative impact it can have on society. Through this partnership, we’re devoted to centring First Nations voices. And it’s our hope that, in turn and in time, it promotes a more inclusive and equitable Australia.”
Following its inaugural awarding last year, the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award returns with a $70,000 cash prize to recognise an outstanding Australian creative within a festival film.
Writer-director Jub Clerc was awarded the prize in 2022 for her work on the uplifting coming-of-age outback road trip film, Sweet As.
An expansive range of roles were eligible for award consideration; such as director, technical or creative lead and other cinema craft positions. The nominees of the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award are:
• Andrew Robinson – Mercy Road – Lead VFX Supervisor
• Jeni Thornley – Memory Film – Director
• Nathan Jurevicius – Scarygirl – Production Designer
• Soda Jerk – Hello Dankness – Director
“Blackmagic Design is excited to be back supporting the Melbourne International Film Festival,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design.
“It is amazing seeing the level of creativity these filmmakers are bringing to the festival and I want to congratulate all the nominees for pushing creative boundaries.”