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Notes

  • Inaugurated in 2011 and first presented in 2012 (for the award year 2011).

Latest Winners / Recipients

Year: 2024

winner form y separately published work icon Talk to Me Danny Philippou , Michael Beck , ( dir. Danny Philippou et. al. )agent South Australia : Causeway Films , 2023 24535453 2023 single work film/TV horror

'Teenager Mia becomes hooked on the thrills of conjuring spirits through a disembodied hand, but when she is confronted by a soul claiming to be her dead mother, she becomes plagued by supernatural visions that threaten to splinter her reality and force her to decide who to trust: the dead or the living.'

Source: South Australian Film Corporation.

Year: 2022

winner form y separately published work icon Elvis Baz Luhrmann , Craig Pearce , ( dir. Baz Luhrmann ) United States of America (USA) Australia : Bazmark Films Roadshow Entertainment The Jackal Group , 2022 23639431 2022 single work film/TV

'A look at the life of the legendary rock and roll star, Elvis Presley. '

Year: 2020

winner form y separately published work icon Babyteeth Rita Kalnejais , ( dir. Shannon Murphy ) Australia : Whitefalk Films , 2019 13197206 2019 single work film/TV

'When seriously ill teenager Milla Finlay falls in love with smalltime drug dealer Moses, it’s her parents’ worst nightmare. But as Milla’s first brush with love brings her a new lust for life, things get messy and traditional morals go out the window. Milla shows everyone in her orbit—her parents, Moses, a sensitive music teacher, a budding child violinist, and a disarmingly honest pregnant neighbor—how to live like you have nothing to lose. What might have been a disaster for the Finlay family instead leads to letting go and finding grace in the glorious chaos of life. Babyteeth joyously explores how good it is not to be dead and how far we will go for love.'

Source: Venice International Film Festival.

Year: 2019

winner form y separately published work icon The Nightingale Jennifer Kent , ( dir. Jennifer Kent ) Australia : Causeway Films , 2018 9595628 2018 single work film/TV historical fiction

'Set in 1825, Clare, a young Irish convict woman (Aisling Franciosi), chases a British officer (Sam Claflin) through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr), who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.'

Source: Screen Australia.

Year: 2018

winner form y separately published work icon Sweet Country Steven McGregor , David Tranter , ( dir. Warwick Thornton ) Australia : Retroflex Lateral Pty Limited , 2017 10406376 2017 single work film/TV crime thriller western

'Sweet Country is set in 1929 in the outback of the Northern Territory. It is the story of a young boy called Philomac, who witnesses Sam, an Aboriginal stockman, kill station owner Harry Marsh in self defence. Sam and his pregnant wife Lizzie go on the run and a posse pursues them across the outback. The posse cannot catch Sam, as he is a clever man and an expert bushman. Eventually for the health of his pregnant wife, Sam gives himself up. A trial is held in town and when the truth comes out in the courtroom about Sam's actions, he is acquitted. Justice has been served. Philomac and Sam set off on their journey home, but soon after leaving town, a shot rings out and Justice is crushed…' (Publication summary)

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