South Australian films and talent swept the field at the inaugural Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Sydney Opera House. The critically acclaimed Snowtown took out four of the five awards for which it was nominated, including Best Direction for Justin Kurzel and Best Lead Actor for Daniel Henshall.

Snowtown was such a success that fellow SA production Red Dog seemed to have been forgotten – until it claimed the Samsung AACTA Award for Best Film. Hugo Weaving won Best Supporting Actor for the SA-made Oranges and Sunshine, while Adelaide actress Sarah Snook took out Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for her role in Sisters of War (ABC1).

AACTA President Geoffrey Rush and Ambassador Cate Blanchett shared presenting duties with an abundance of Australian talent, including Rachael Taylor, Mia Wasikowska, Miranda Kerr, Jacki Weaver and others. Olivia Newton-John kicked off the ceremony by performing a medley of songs from the soundtrack of her latest film, the recently released A Few Best Men.

Best Actor winner Daniel Henshall was eager to sing the praises of the South Australian film industry and the new Adelaide Studios at Glenside.

"I love the South Australian Film Corp and I love the Adelaide Film Festival – I think what they do is brilliant in supporting Australian film," he told Glam Adelaide.

"Taking on risky projects the way they do, doing what they do in supporting this country and its film is just brilliant."

Australian supermodel and actress Megan Gale looked striking in a lacy gown by Alex Perry. Chatting about her ambitions for the future, she explained that she had put her acting career on hiatus to focus on opportunities such as Project Runway. However, she quickly added that she was keeping her options open and waiting for the right acting project.

"There've definitely been opportunities and things that've come up, but I'm a big believer in not doing a film just for the sake of doing it," she said.

"It has to be the right role, the right people involved, the right director, the right script."

Gale said her ideal role would be something unglamorous.

"Something a bit raw, a bit more exposed," she elaborated, laughing at suggestions that she do a Natalie Portman and be the next actress to shave her head for a part.

Rob Carlton, nominated for playing Kerry Packer in Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo (ABC1), loudly confessed to have found it more daunting portraying a real person.

“It’s terrifying!”

"The one thing we have as actors normally, is that we can say 'It's the character, that's the choice I made'. But when it's somebody who actually existed and who everybody knows?"

Adelaide’s own Xavier Samuel looked dapper as he strode down the red carpet in a classic black suit. Known for his roles in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Anonymous and A Few Best Men, the young star spoke fondly about his hometown.

“I always look forward to coming back to Adelaide and spending time there, lots of my friends and family are still there,” he told Glam Adelaide. “I like to go back home.”

Asked how it felt to go from Adelaide to the AACTAs, he started wise-cracking.

“Yeah, the drive is nice. Via Melbourne, through the countryside…” he quipped, before turning serious.

“I think I’m really privileged and lucky to be in a position to keep doing what I love. I know a whole lot of very talented Australian actors who aren’t working, so I count myself very lucky.”

Samuel’s tendency towards charming sarcasm reared its head again when asked where he would like to see the Australian film industry in the future.

“Still in Australia.”

He was unable to hide a smirk at my protestations that the question was meant metaphorically. “I know!” he laughed. “I think a night like tonight is a real occasion to celebrate Australian film and television having wider recognition and more international recognition. There are a lot of very talented actors and filmmakers here and I think it’s about time we received that recognition.”

The conversation turned to the suit Samuel was wearing, which was made by Louis Vuitton.

“You look lovely, as well,” he added, just before he moved on – turning this reporter almost as red as the carpet.

Actor and director Richard Roxburgh told Glam Adelaide that the public was too eager to attach inaccurate labels to Australian films.

“If you have a year where there’s a lot of comedies, people will say ‘We only ever produce comedies!’ – the next year it will be gloomy films and people say we only ever do those.”

Actress Radha Mitchell said that Australian filmmakers and audiences were privileged in being able to focus on film as art.

“I’m based in America mainly and that’s quite difficult [there] because everyone’s financially constrained,” she told Glam. “We have the opportunity to make movies that register on that level.”

Magda Szubanski said she disagreed with the oft-cited view that local audiences are too unwilling to support local movies. “Australians are big filmgoers,” she said.

“I think we really love seeing our own stories told.”

The AACTA Awards were launched in August last year as a continuum of the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards, which have been celebrating Australian film and television excellence for over half a century.

2012 Samsung AACTA Award Winners

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG ACTOR
Lara Robinson, Cloudstreet – Part 1 (FOXTEL – Showcase).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes' Journey. Steve Knapman, Kris Wyld (SBS).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES
The Slap, Tony Ayres, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon (ABC1).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
The Gruen Transfer, Series 4. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir (ABC1).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
The Slap - Episode 3 ‘Harry’. Matthew Saville (ABC1).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION
The Slap - Episode 3 'Harry'. Brendan Cowell (ABC1).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Alex Dimitriades, The Slap (ABC1).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Sarah Snook, Sisters Of War (ABC1).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Richard Cawthorne, Killing Time - Episode 2 (FOXTEL – TV1).

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Diana Glenn, The Slap - Episode 3 'Harry' (ABC1).

SWITCHED ON AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION PROGRAM
Packed To The Rafters, Seven Network.

SWITCHED ON AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Asher Keddie, Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo (ABC1).

SAMSUNG AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FILM
Red Dog, Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
Snowtown, Justin Kurzel.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Griff The Invisible, Leon Ford.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Snowtown, Shaun Grant.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
Daniel Henshall, Snowtown.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Judy Davis. The Eye Of The Storm.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Hugo Weaving, Oranges And Sunshine.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Louise Harris, Snowtown.

Photos by LJ PhotoCorp.

The winners of the inaugural Samsung Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards were announced at Sydney Opera House last night.  The full list of nominees and winners is below, with the winners in bold.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG ACTOR
Olivia DeJonge. Good Pretender.
Emma Jefferson. My Place, Series 2 ‐ Episode 17 '1848 ‐ Johanna'. ABC3
Lara Robinson. Cloudstreet ‐ Part 1. FOXTEL ‐ Showcase
Lucas Yeeda. Mad Bastards.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
East West 101, Season 3 ‐ The Heroes' Journey. Steve Knapman, Kris Wyld. SBS
Offspring, Season 2. John Edwards, Imogen Banks. Network Ten
Rake. Ian Collie, Peter Duncan, Richard Roxburgh. ABC1
Spirited, Season 2. Claudia Karvan, Jacquelin Perske. FOXTEL ‐ W

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES
Cloudstreet. Greg Haddrick, Brenda Pam. FOXTEL ‐ Showcase
Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. John Edwards, Karen Radzyner. ABC1
Sisters Of War. Andrew Wiseman. ABC1
The Slap. Tony Ayres, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
The Gruen Transfer, Series 4. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir. ABC1
Hungry Beast, Series 3. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Andy Nehl, Jon Casimir. ABC1
Judith Lucy's Spiritual Journey. Todd Abbott. ABC1
Junior MasterChef, Series 1. Tara McWilliams. Network Ten
RocKwiz. Brian Nankervis, Ken Connor, Peter Bain‐Hogg, Joe Connor. SBS

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo ‐ Episode 1. Daina Reid. ABC1
The Slap ‐ Episode 1 ‘Hector’. Jessica Hobbs. ABC1
The Slap ‐ Episode 3 ‘Harry’. Matthew Saville. ABC1
Small Time Gangster ‐ Episode 1 'Jingle Bells'. Jeffrey Walker. FOXTEL ‐ Movie Network

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION
Cloudstreet ‐ Part 3. Tim Winton, Ellen Fontana. FOXTEL ‐ Showcase
Laid ‐ Episode 3. Kirsty Fisher. ABC1
The Slap ‐ Episode 1 'Hector'. Kris Mrksa. ABC1
The Slap ‐ Episode 3 'Harry'. Brendan Cowell. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Rob Carlton, Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. ABC1
Alex Dimitriades, The Slap. ABC1
Don Hany, East West 101, Season 3 ‐ The Heroes' Journey. SBS
Jonathan LaPaglia, The Slap. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Essie Davis, Cloudstreet. FOXTEL ‐ Showcase
Kerry Fox, Cloudstreet. FOXTEL ‐ Showcase
Asher Keddie, Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. ABC1
Sarah Snook, Sisters Of War. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Richard Cawthorne, Killing Time ‐ Episode 2. FOXTEL ‐ TV1
Aaron Fa'aoso, East West 101, Season 3 ‐ The Heroes' Journey ‐ Episode 18 'The Price Of Salvation'. SBS
Jacek Koman, Spirited, Season 2 ‐ Episode 2 'Time After Time'. FOXTEL ‐ W
Todd Lasance, Cloudstreet ‐ Part 3. FOXTEL ‐ Showcase

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Diana Glenn, The Slap ‐ Episode 3 'Harry'. ABC1
Rena Owen, East West 101, Season 3 ‐ The Heroes' Journey ‐ Episode 18 'The Price Of Salvation'. SBS
Susie Porter, Sisters Of War. ABC1
Lara Robinson, Cloudstreet ‐ Part 1. FOXTEL ‐ Showcase

SWITCHED ON AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION PROGRAM
MasterChef Australia, Network Ten
Packed To The Rafters, Seven Network
Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo, ABC1
Underbelly Razor, Nine Network

SWITCHED ON AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Rebecca Gibney, Packed To The Rafters. Seven Network
Asher Keddie, Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. ABC1
Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Underbelly Razor. Nine Network
Erik Thomson, Packed To The Rafters. Seven Network

SAMSUNG AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FILM
The Eye Of The Storm. Antony Waddington, Gregory Read, Fred Schepisi.
The Hunter. Vincent Sheehan.
Mad Bastards. David Jowsey, Alan Pigram, Stephen Pigram, Brendan Fletcher.
Oranges And Sunshine. Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning.
Red Dog, Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan.
Snowtown. Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
The Eye Of The Storm, Fred Schepisi.
The Hunter, Daniel Nettheim.
Red Dog, Kriv Stenders.
Snowtown, Justin Kurzel.

]AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Griff The Invisible, Leon Ford.
The Loved Ones, Sean Byrne.
Mad Bastards, Brendan Fletcher, Dean Daley‐Jones, Greg Tait, John Watson.
Red Hill, Patrick Hughes.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Eye Of The Storm, Judy Morris.
The Hunter, Alice Addison.
Red Dog, Daniel Taplitz.
Snowtown, Shaun Grant.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
Willem Dafoe, The Hunter.
Daniel Henshall, Snowtown.
Geoffrey Rush, The Eye Of The Storm.
David Wenham, Oranges And Sunshine.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Judy Davis, The Eye Of The Storm.
Frances O'Connor, The Hunter.
Charlotte Rampling, The Eye Of The Storm.
Emily Watson, Oranges And Sunshine.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
John Gaden, The Eye Of The Storm.
Sam Neill, The Hunter
Robert Rabiah, Face To Face.
Hugo Weaving, Oranges And Sunshine.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Morgana Davies, The Hunter.
Louise Harris, Snowtown.
Helen Morse, The Eye Of The Storm.
Alexandra Schepisi, The Eye Of The Storm.

Wastelander Panda, by Adelaide’s Epic Films, has attracted created a huge stir in the internet community, with over 100,000 views since it was put online on Tuesday.

The three-minute film, which is a live-action tale of the last remaining panda in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, has prompted comparisons to iconic films Mad Max, The Road and The Book of Eli.

Written and directed by Victoria Cocks, Wastelander Panda was created as a prologue for a television series that the team at Epic Films has been developing for the last year.  Since being uploaded on Tuesday, the film has been featured on the front page of popular websites such as Buzzfeed, io9, Gizmodo and Neatorama, and caught the attention of Hollywood writer Gary Whitta.

“As well as the interest on blogs, we’ve had Twitter users commenting about Wastelander Panda in several different languages.  Gary Whitta, writer of The Book of Eli, saw the film, and sent us a message saying “I enjoyed it a lot, very cool!” Even YouTube tweeted the film to their 8 million followers,” said Cocks.

“The most exciting thing has been reading the comments and emails from fans who loved what they saw and are asking us how they can help fund future episodes.  We’ve been looking at the stats from the video, and it’s been seen in over 140 countries, including some as obscure as Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and Greenland.  It’s hard to believe that all these people are sitting in front of their computer watching something we made right here in Adelaide.”

Epic Films raised the money for the prologue independently, with assistance of a grant from the Helpmann Academy.  They also received a lot of support from the local Flinders Ranges communities in Blinman, Parachilna and Hawker, who offered locations and acted as extras in the film. 

They now hope to use the prologue’s success to fund a full series of Wastelander Panda, and will be taking their concept to television stations and funding bodies.  They’re hoping to have production underway by the end of the year.

http://wastelanderpanda.pozible.com

http://www.epicfilms.com.au | http://www.facebook.com/epicfilmsAUS

Three South Australian films have been shortlisted for the 2012 Movie Extra Tropfest Film Festival and two for Trop Jnr. All three films supported through the MRC's Tropfest Production Initiative were shortlisted, as were both films produced in the MRC’s inaugural Tropfest Junior Bootcamp.

The shortlisted entries from SA are: A Tortured Mind (writer/director Dave Wade, producer Bettina Hamilton), animated comedy Clarence’s Kite (writer/directors/producers Chris Spencer & Thomas Cant) and Suburban Samurai (writer/director Craig Behenna and producers David Ngo and Nick Matthews). The 2012 Tropfest Signature Item is "lightbulb". The filmmakers find out on Feb 3 if they are finalists.

The MRC’s Tropfest Production Initiative aims to assist South Australian filmmakers develop and produce an engaging, entertaining short specifically for entry into Tropfest. Cash investment in this year’s projects totaled more than $25,000 plus $15,000 in kind equipment and facilities to support the production of their short films.

“We’re thrilled at the success of these filmmakers, both established and young. We’re proud to support them and wish them well for the next round," said MRC Director Gail Kovatseff.

The participants in MRC’s Tropfest Junior Bootcamp produced two films for Tropfest Junior: Juice Lords and The Making of Juice. The aspiring young filmmakers are Bodhi Stone, Charlie Anderson, Jarrad Lowe, Gina Cameron, Harper Robb, Tallulah Robb and Waniki- Gibuma-Marr.

Tropfest is Australia’s most prestigious short film festival and one of the largest short film festivals in the world.

Trop Jr is a filmmaking competition and free outdoor festival for kids 15 years and younger. Trop Jr is about encouraging young people to make films and follows the same format as all Tropfest competitions, in that all entries must be made specifically for the festival, be no longer than seven minutes, and feature the Trop Jr Signature Item, which for 2012 is JUICE.

The Tropfest and Trop Jnr. finalists will be screened around Australia on Sunday 19 February.

For more info, visit http://tropfest.com/au/

The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) congratulates SA filmmakers who won five categories at the first ever Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards held in Sydney yesterday. 

THE PALACE (Kate Croser, Anthony Maras, Andros Achilleos) won Best Short Fiction Film and best Screenplay in a Short Film for Anthony Maras. Bryan Mason won Best Editing in a Documentary for his work on SHUT UP LITTLE MAN! AN AUDIO MISADVENTURE (Sophie Hyde, Matt Bate) building on the films previous successes, which include Official Selection at the Sundance and Edinburgh Film Festivals in 2011.

Box office hit RED DOG, produced by Nelson Woss and South Australian producer Julie Ryan took out the AFI Member’s Choice Award. The film was shot mainly on location in South Australia at Lower Light and at the Clipsal Factory in Adelaide with South Australian crew.

Red Dog Producer, Julie Ryan said "Making Red Dog and seeing it resonate with Australian audiences has been extremely rewarding, and now to be honoured with an AACTA Award is really fantastic. We worked with an incredible team both in Adelaide and the Pilbara and everyone who worked on it should pat themselves on the back."

Justin Kurzel’s SNOWTOWN made with SAFC support and also filmed in Adelaide was awarded Best Editing (Veronika Jenet). SNOWTOWN also won Best Sound with SA sound professionals, Foley Artist, John Simpson and Sound Recordist, Des Kenneally amongst the winning sound team alongside Frank Lipson MPSE, Andrew McGrath, Michael Carden and Erin McKimm.

SNOWTOWN has an impressive 10 AACTA nominations and is still in the running for Best Film (Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw), Best Director (Justin Kurzel), Best Adapted Screenplay (Shaun Grant) and Best Supporting Actress (Louise Harris) to be announced at a second ceremony, which will take place on 31 January at Sydney Opera House.

SAFC supported feature ORANGES AND SUNSHINE is still in the running for Best Film (Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning), Best Lead Actor (David Wenham), Best Lead Actress (Emily Watson) and Best Supporting Actor (Hugo Weaving). RED DOG is still in the running for Best Film (Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan), Best Director (Kriv Stenders) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Daniel Taplitz) at the second AACTA Awards.

SAFC CEO Richard Harris said “We are thrilled with the success of SA filmmakers at yesterday’s AACTA Awards. The SAFC is very excited by how many SA made films and filmmakers have been nominated. The Awards recognise the exceptional quality that South Australia’s key creatives, crew and sound professionals bring to any project. We expect SA will continue to shine at the second AACTA Awards. It’s a great start to the SAFC’s 40th Anniversary year!”

The AACTA Awards are a continuum of the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards, which have been awarding screen excellence in Australia since 1958. The inaugural Samsung AACTA Awards Ceremony will be held on 31 January 2012. With several SAFC supported films up for more awards.

For more info and upcoming events see http://www.safilm.com.au/

For nearly two decades, the Chemical Brothers “mind-bending” audiovisual live show has played to packed houses and festivals across the globe. But it has never been documented on film.

Until now.  

On 3rd February 2012, audiences across Australia will have the chance to experience this exciting worldwide cinematic event.  Don’t Think will show for one night only on the big screen at select Event, Greater Union and Birch Carroll & Coyle cinemas.

Filmed with 20 cameras at a headline show at Japan’s Fujirock Festival, this Chemical Brothers’ live experience has been mixed for the big screen by the band themselves.

Directed by long-term visuals collaborator Adam Smith this full-length concert movie places cameras in the centre of the stage as well as at the very heart of the crowd to perfectly capture a fan's eye view of the heightened emotional reactions of the audience seeing the band at their very best.



During the film, Smith takes advantage of one of the most unique festival settings in the world when he follows selected audience members away from the stage and out into the natural environment.

Then, by adding avant-garde magic realist moments where trippy visuals leave the screens and invade the open spaces of the festival, 

Don't Think undergoes a transformation from concert film to fully immersive document of one of the most mind-bendingly psychedelic live shows ever seen.

Tickets on sale now at eventcinemas.com.au or at the Marion Megaplex box office.
 

This Christmas enjoy George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker from the New York City Ballet on the big screen for 3 days only.

Experience the magic and wonder that The New York Times calls "the unique, original and inimitable Nutcracker." With Tchaikovsky's incomparable score, hundreds of dazzling costumes, a one-ton tree that magically grows and a million watts of illuminated excitement, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker is the definitive Christmas must-see for families.

The production features more than 70 New York City Ballet dancers, the 62-piece New York City Ballet Orchestra, and 50 children from the School of American Ballet.

The Nutcracker will be filmed in high definition at New York’s Lincoln Centre and then shown as a live-captured exclusive event in Australia on the big screen for 3 days only.

Don’t miss out on this very special Christmas event. See The Nutcracker at participating Event, Greater Union and Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas for 3 days only on December 22, 23 and 24. 

Tickets $15 children, $25 for adults and $20* for all Event Cinemas Cinebuzz members. 

On sale now at www.eventcinemas.com.au or at the box office.

Young SA filmmaker and Flinders University alumnus Brendon Skinner has won the prestigious Beijing Pitching Competition for his film proposal The Pulse, an Australian-Chinese co-production. Brendon was chosen as the victor out of 16 emerging filmmakers from China and the Asia Pacific. The Pulse, a superhero film set in Sydney, was devised with co-director and co-producer Simon Williams.

The Beijing Pitching Competition is part of a film workshop run by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) Asia Pacific and China International Copyright Expo, with the aim of bringing together top emerging filmmakers from across the Asia Pacific region. It assists their careers by building networks and finding potential collaborators within the region. This year is the first time an Australian filmmaker has attended the Beijing MPA CICE Film Workshop – let alone won.

Brendon Skinner will now meet with studio executives from the MPA in the US. He will also attend the annual American Film Market – which attracts over 8000 delegates from 70 countries – to discuss The Pulse.

Speaking to Glam Adelaide, Brendon said the win showed that "dreams do come true".

"This is the perfect end to a fabulous year of intensive development and training. Simon Williams and I have always believed in The Pulse and we knew we are aiming high with this project," Brendon said.

"I had the advantage of being supported by a host of different people, companies, and organisations that really believe in what we're trying to do."

Brendon said the win has given him the confidence to pursue the project with international partners.

"The opportunity to visit executives in the MPA and in the US studios and to attend the American Film Market is of great benefit to us and our project," he said.

"The workshop here was fabulous and we’re thankful to the MPA for including us in this worthwhile event."

Brendon first won the South Australian competition hosted by the Media Resource Centre, and was then selected to represent Australia following the Screen Development Network’s National Pitch Competition.

Brendon Skinner and Simon Williams have made several award-winning short films and received a nomination for their short Toot Toot in this year’s Inside Film (IF) Awards. They are also in a mentorship and development deal with South Australia’s AMPCO Films.

The Board of the BigPond Adelaide Film Festival has announced that Amanda Duthie will take over as Director and CEO, following Katrina Sedgwick's departure at the end of this year.

Amanda Duthie is one of Australia's leading figures in the film and television industry. She began her career at SBS and was Executive Producer and Series Producer from 1991 – 99. She left SBS to work as associate producer of Beyond the Fatal Shore, a PBS-BBC-ABC co-production written and presented by Robert Hughes, before she joined the NSW Film & Television Office as Senior Project Manager. In December 2003 Amanda joined the ABC as Commissioning Editor and Executive Producer of Arts & Entertainment and was appointed Head of Content Arts & Entertainment in October 2008.

Under her watch, the ABC has produced numerous award winning programs. During her time with the ABC, Duthie has worked with BAFF, jointly investing in a number of new Australian films including Mrs Carey's Concert and Stunt Love in addition to the recently announced Hive Production Fund projects.

"Finding someone to fill the very large shoes of Katrina Sedgwick – the Festival's founding director and creative dynamo who has evolved BAFF into one of the world's most exciting film events – was a daunting task," said Sandra Sdraulig, Chair of the BAFF Board.

"I feel absolutely confident that Amanda Duthie is that person, an individual with extraordinary skills, energy, knowledge and networks who we are absolutely delighted will guide the Festival into the future."

South Australian Minister for The Arts, the Hon John Hill MP, said that it is an "exciting time" for the South Australian film industry, citing the recent opening of the Adelaide Studios at Glenside and the dominance of SA-made films in the recent AACTA award nominations.

"I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to join this dynamic and respected Festival, which I have attended many times as a film lover," said Amanda Duthie.

"The Adelaide Film Festival is the most exciting arts and big screen content gig in the country and I am thrilled to be offered the position. Katrina Sedgwick has created an internationally acclaimed film event and I will honour it with the same passion and enthusiasm for Australian and international stories. I look forward to joining the team in Adelaide in the new year."

The 2013 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival will take place from 10 – 20 October 2013. For more information, visit the BAFF website.

Screen Seekers is the Mercury Cinema’s exciting new holiday program where kids can watch family friendly films on fun themed days. The Screen Seekers film program offers an alternative to the multiplex blockbusters, providing a memorable and entertaining film experience.

The screening program kicks off on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 December with Christmas themed days full of film, food and fun, complete with a visit from Santa. Children can choose from two classic Christmas movies: 2003 comedy ELF (PG) starring Will Ferrall; or MIRACLE ON 34^TH STREET (PG) 1994, about a little girl who discovers dreams do come true if you really believe. Both films screen with South Australian short TOOT TOOT (2010) a cheeky Christmas film about Stan, a six-year-old boy who opens his present early, only to discover it doesn’t live up to the picture on the box.

Friday 13 January Mercury hosts SCARY DAY with spooky films and entertainment and a prize for the scariest costume. Screening on the day is AFI winning fantasy short GARGOYLE, followed by either eighties cult classic GHOSTBUSTERS (1984, PG) or family friendly Disney musical BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (1971, G).

Tickets for Screen Seekers film days are just $8 for both kids and adults, including the movie ticket, sausage sizzle and an ice block.

Screen Seekers is proudly supported by ArtsSA and the Adelaide City Council.

For more information or bookings please call 8410 0979 or visit www.mercurycinema.org.au

The Mercury Cinema, 13 Morphett Street, Adelaide