MUNDINGBURRA SCHOOL SCOOPS POOL AT FILM AWARDS CEREMONY

A Townsville primary school has been awarded two of the major prizes at a short film festival in Brisbane, Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland Craig Wallace said today.

At a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Powerhouse last night, winners of the third annual Liquid Lens short film awards were announced.

Mr Wallace said Mundingburra State School’s Class 7EB of 2006 won the Best Animated Showreel by a Primary School and were awarded Runners-Up in the Best Short Film in the Open Category.

The Liquid Lens awards are a highlight of Brisbane’s annual 10-day Riverfestival. The festival is a collection of cultural events which celebrate water and remind the public of the need to conserve the resource for future generations.

In the competition, sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and Water, aspiring filmmakers were asked to develop a short filmed based on the theme inspired by water.

Mr Wallace, who is also Queensland’s Water Minister and presented the evening’s major award, congratulated the North Queensland school.

“For a region that is often blessed with plentiful rainfall, it is a remarkable achievement for these young people to create such a wonderful film about water conservation,” he said.

“The quirky animation, titled The Adventures of Twinkle, Trickle and Splashie, features three rain droplets and their journey from the sky to the ocean and back again and all the adventures the have along the way. The audience at last night’s awards gave the film a great reception, and even though it had a serious message, it was a humorous tale.

“Congratulations to all the students and teachers involved in the production. It goes to show what talent we have here in North Queensland, to come away with two of the top prizes at a competition like this.”

Mr Wallace said the awards were an excellent opportunity for artists and filmmakers to display their work publicly and communicate their views.

“The current water crisis, particularly in South East Queensland, has made us all examine the way they use water and as a result we are changing our habits and appreciation for our natural resources,” Mr Wallace said.

Riverfestival runs from Friday 31 August to Sunday 9 September 2007.

Free public screenings of the finalist films will take place during the Liquid Lens @ Lunch from midday each day this week until Sunday 9 September at the Suncorp Piazza at South Bank in Brisbane.

Media contact: Caroline Kaurila, Craig Wallace’s office on (07) 3896 3694.