Marking its 52nd iteration, this year’s Short Film Awards will see ten finalists compete for three major prizes: The Dendy Live Action Short Award, The Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director and the Yoram Gross Animation Award.
Sponsored by Dendy Cinemas since 1989, the Head of Theatrical Sales and Acquisitions for Dendy/Icon Nick Hayes said, “Short films have a special place in the hearts of all filmmakers. It is the first time most will ever use the credit of Director. For some filmmakers it will be a form to which they return, even when they have established themselves in the industry. Such is the joy of the perfectly formed film and Dendy is once again so proud to support all the 2021 Dendy finalists.”
This year’s finalists include:
Dwarf Planet | 2020 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Adrian Chiarella
Freedom Swimmer | 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Olivia Martin-McGuire
Lifeblood | 2021 | Australia | Director, Producer: Nicholas Tory
The Moogai | 2020| Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Jon Bell
Off The Rails | 2021 | Australia | Directors, Screenwriters, Producers: Bel Holborow, Isabelle Coury
Peeps | 2020| Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Sophie Somerville
Shark| 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Nash Edgerton
The Stranger | 2020| Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Jenny Hicks
Tinashé | 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Tig Terera
tough| 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Taylor Ferguson
The 2021 Sydney Film Festival also heralds the return of Europe! Voices of Women in Film, a partnership with European Film Promotion. Now entering its sixth year, the initiative is set to showcase ten films, casting a judicious spotlight on a selection of exciting, talented filmmakers.
Festival Director Nashen Moodley “Audiences can look forward to 10 essential films from Europe’s most exciting women directors as part of the Europe! Voices of Women in Film program. From revered award-winners to powerful examinations of prejudice and inequality, as well as a provocative exploration of the U.S. porn industry, these films are sure to resonate with festival audiences.”
Highlights of the program included Ninja Thyberg’s Pleasure, a bold drama about a young Swedish woman striving for success in LA’s ruthless porn industry; Charlène Favier’s Slalom, an unflinching portrait of the abuse experienced by a teenage competitive skier at the hands of her domineering coach; and Isabel Lamberti’s poignant drama Last Days of Spring, an affecting blend of fiction and documentary exploring the plight of a family facing eviction from a Madrid shantytown.
“The films in this year’s line-up zoom in on human ambitions colliding with nature and patriarchal, capitalist or xenophobic structures,” elaborates European Film Promotion Managing Director Sonja Heinen. “They deal with the dualisms of our time, focus on ambivalences and offer the audience thought-provoking impulses rather than answers.
“We are thrilled that our programme is coming back to Sydney’s cinema screens this year and are looking forward to turning this fine selection of voices by European women directors into an unforgettable cinematic experience.”
Additional films in the Europe! Voices of Women in Film program include:
From The Wild Sea | 2021 | Denmark | Director: Robin Petré
Green Sea (Greece) from Director, Screenwriter: Angeliki Antoniou
Hive (Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania) from Director, Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli
How To Kill A Cloud (Finland, Denmark) from Director, Screenwriter: Tuija Halttunen
Nico (Germany) from Director: Eline Gehring
Reconciliation (Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo) from Director: Marija Zidar
Why Not You (Austria, Belgium) from Director, Screenwriter: Evi Romen
The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films finalists will screen together at Event Cinemas George Street from 2pm on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 November 2021.
For full program details and ticket sales, including Flexipasses call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au today.
