By Travis Johnson
The 35th St Kilda Film Festival wrapped up on Saturday night with the traditional awards ceremony, and Lost Property Office, directed by Daniel Agdag and produced by Liz Kearney, was announced as Best Short Film, taking home a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of the City of Port Phillip.
Best Documentary went to A Life Together, directed and produced by Simon Direen, while acclaimed filmmaker Warwick Thornton won Best Achievement in Cinematography for his work on Coat of Arms, directed by Dylan River, with the film also being awarded Best Achievement in Indigenous Filmmaking. the popular and much-lauded Mrs McCutcheon scored Best Director for John Sheedy and Best Young Actor for Wesley Pattern awarded Best Young Actor. Best Youth Short Film was awarded to Don’t Call Me Beautiful, directed by Jill Robinson and produced by Tara Wise.
Festival Director Paul Harris praised the quality of the 2018 film submissions. “This year, the quality of entries is a testament to the exceptional talent coming through in Australia’s film industry. I congratulate the 2018 award winners on their well-deserved prizes and all entrants for their wonderful work. At St Kilda Film Festival we stand with calls for the wider film industry to support equality and diversity in all aspects of the industry. We always welcome feedback on the festival and look forward to any means of encouraging dialogue as to ongoing improvements in this regard.”
Best Short Film
Lost Property Office
Director: Daniel Agdag
Producer: Liz Kearney
Best Director
John Sheedy
Film: Mrs McCutcheon
Craft Award
Cooee
Director: Toby Morris
Producer: Sam Burnett
Best Achievement in Screenplay
Shaun Perry & Jay Perry
Film: The Intentions of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Best Achievement in Editing
Simon Direen
Film: A Life Together
Best Achievement in Cinematography
Warwick Thornton
Film: Coat of Arms
Best Achievement in Sound Post Production
Matt Read
Film: The Intentions of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
ZPM Film
Film: Last Tree Standing
Best Animation
Lost Property Office
Director: Daniel Agdag
Producer: Liz Kearney
Best Comedy
Partners
Director: Henry Inglis
Producer: Cath Trimboli
Best Documentary
A Life Together
Director: Simon Direen
Producer: Simon Direen
Best Youth Short Film
Don’t Call Me Beautiful
Director: Jill Robinson
Producer: Tara Wise
Best Original Score
Michael Yezerski
Film: Fysh
Best Achievement in Indigenous Filmmaking
Coat of Arms
Director: Dylan River
Producers: Rachel Clements, Trisha Morton-Thomas
Best Actor
Oscar Redding
Film: Red Ink
Best Young Actor
Wesley Patten
Film: Mrs McCutcheon
Audience Choice Award
Daily Bread
Director: Ruby Challenger
Producer: Ruby Challenger
