Sony has announced the winners of the third annual Catchlight Film Festival, which recognises filmmakers from Australia and New Zealand that have chosen to tell their stories with a Sony camera. The 2023 Catchlight Film Festival judges, Yolanda Ramke (Non-Fiction), Gracie Otto (Fiction), Simeon Bryan (Student Fiction) & Sony Music Australia (Music Video) chose the four winning films from the remarkable finalist films in this year’s line-up.
Jun Yoon, Head of Sony Digital Imaging ANZ commented, “On behalf of the Sony filmmaking community, I extend a huge congratulations to all our finalists and winners across the film categories and cinematography laurels. The creativity, dedication and passion of these gifted storytellers was so evident in the work they submitted. The Australian & New Zealand film industry is in good hands.”
Watch all the winning and finalist films here.
Fiction Winner
Bangay Lore by Jahvis Loveday
Shot on: Alpha 7S III
Bangay Lore, meaning spear in the Dyirbal language of Far North QLD, is a short film that showcases how aboriginal culture is perceived when it is performed on stage and when it is expressed in everyday society. It is about the limitations wrongly placed on the expression of aboriginal culture. It follows the journey of a young aboriginal dancer as he struggles with acceptance of his culture outside of the theatre.
Non-Fiction Winner
Pitch Black by Guillym Davenport
Shot on: FX6 & Alpha 7S III
Pitch Black takes us inside the claustrophobic worlds of three young men who fell down the ‘blackpill’ rabbit hole and are struggling to reckon with their action. Mark and Luke now claim to be ex-incels and are trying to shed their destructive mindset – but have their beliefs really changed or are echoes of a hateful ideology still ringing out? Aaron is on the opposite path; a downward spiral into the abyss. Full of self-loathing and rage, he lives in a bleak reality that revolves around filming self-destructive ‘blackpill’ vlogs in his car. Pitch Black is a chilling docu-drama that radically challenges the documentary form and unpacks how small acts online can lead to horrific acts of violence offline.
Music Video Winner
Baby Prince – Shake ft. Blessed by Bronson Moyle
Shot on: FX6
The music video has a samurai/ninja aesthetic overall and the story follows a young man who has his heart set out for the princess. They have had a bond in the past however gatekept by the emperor, her father. He has done awful things to gain power and she is trapped. We see a flashback to another timeframe where the artist approaches a wise sensei. He becomes his mentor and shows him the path he must take. Ultimately coming back to the present time as a battle take place.
Student Fiction Winner
The Extra by Tyler Kang
Shot on: Alpha 6400
A young Asian actress named ‘Kaylee’ auditions for a series of roles in an upcoming major film. Kaylee’s initial excitement quickly fades away when she realises she is being typecasted into Asian stereotypes. Each audition soon becomes a battle for her own agency, as she wrestles between her self-expression of the role and the casting director’s stereotypical vision of each role.
Special Laurels judged by Stefan Duscio ACS
Best Cinematography in Fiction, supported by Videocraft
Subject by Fraser Whitehead
Best Cinematography in Non-Fiction, supported by VA Hire
Where the Dreamings Come From by Matt Deavin
Best Cinematography in Music Video, supported by Lemac
Baby Prince – Shake ft. Blessed by Bronson Moyle
Best Cinematography in Student Fiction, supported by Atomos
Hills Hoist by Angus Becke-Smith
Best Sony Lens Work
Where the Dreamings Come From by Matt Deavin
The awards were announced on Saturday 9 September 2023 at the red carpet awards ceremony held in Sydney.
The Catchlight Film Festival will return in 2024. Please register your interest here.
