MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Sunday 13th December 2009
JACOB WINS 2009 GOLD SHORTS AWARD
A powerful drama about how the joy of a boy’s birth to an aboriginal couple
quickly disintegrates when his obvious fair skin reveals the truth of his
conception, has won the 2009 Gold Shorts Awards, presented last night at
the 2009 C-Coffee SHORTS Film Festival in Adelaide.
Jacob, set in central Australia in the 1940’s, is the work of New South
Wales director and screenwriter, Dena Curtis and tackles the widespread
practice at the time of white farmers abusing their Indigenous employees.
Announced as the Gold winner at the festival’s closing awards on Saturday
night (December 12), the film was recognised by the judges for the quality
of the storytelling and the emotions the film evoked.
As the Gold Winner, Dena receives a trip to the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
–
including return airfare, festival entry and quality accommodation within
close proximity of event along with $1,000 cash
South Australian filmmaker Ross Guerin took out the Silver Shorts Award
for his film, Work Ready, which tells the story of a young woman with
Downs Syndrome facing the challenge of finding employment.
Another local filmmaker, Eddie White, received the Bronze Shorts Award
for the second year running, for his film The Cat Piano.
Work Ready, another powerful film, was recognised for its compelling
storytelling and The Cat Piano for optimising the use of animation to tell a
story of great quality.
Other prize-winners were Four (Directed by New South Wales filmmaker
Erin White), Reach (Directed by Victorian Luke Randall) and My Uncle
Bluey (Directed by West Australian Britt Arthur).
The judging process is completely independent with over 45 judges, given
the strict criteria of the strength of storytelling as the basis for their
decisions. This year, judging sessions were held in Sydney, Melbourne and
Adelaide. The first time judging sessions have been held in three cities.
This year’s C-Coffee SHORTS Film Festival was the biggest ever, running
over a full week for the first time and attracting record attendances.
“We’ve been successful in attracting a bigger and broader audience than
ever before,” said Festival Founder and Director, David Lightfoot.
“The feedback from our audiences has been extremely positive and
supports our decision to retain our original vision for the festival, which was
to reward the craft of storytelling and show films in a social environment.”
“It’s a formula that’s working year after year.”
The festival was established in 2003 and has grown to now include a main
festival, an outback screening event and a partnership with the prestigious
Rushes SOHO Shorts in London.
For more information, visit the SHORTS Film Festival website located at
MEDIA CONTACT:
SIMON HATCHER
0419 780 071
Media Note: Interviews are available with the winning filmmakers and
directors of the SHORTS Film Festival
NEWS 
