Published Friday, 18 July, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Heath Ledger honoured with Chauvel Award at BIFF
The late Heath Ledger will be honoured for his contribution to the Australian film industry with the 2008 Chauvel Award, Arts Minister Rod Welford announced today.
Speaking at the official program launch for the 2008 St George Bank Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF), Mr Welford said Ledger would join other Australian film luminaries – including George Miller, Geoffrey Rush, Bryan Brown and Jack Thompson – in receiving the honour.
“The Chauvel Award is named after Charles and Elsa Chauvel, the husband and wife filmmaking team who championed Australia’s film industry in its early years,” Mr Welford said.
“Over the years, there have been many others who have drawn focus to the Australian film industry either through their own personal achievements in their field or their consistent and staunch support for Australian filmmaking.
“Heath Ledger did both, and his passing highlighted how loved and revered he was – not just by fans, but by the Australian filmmaking community.”
Mr Welford said friends and colleagues of Heath Ledger would attend the award presentation at The Regent Cinema on Thursday 7 August from 7pm. Hosted by David Stratton, the presentation will include interview and film material from Ledger’s career. This event will be open to the public with tickets on sale from today.
Mr Welford said the 2008 BIFF program offered more than 110 films at up to 200 sessions over 11 days.
“There are titles from 56 countries across the world, with this year’s BIFF continuing its tradition for quality retrospective and Asia-Pacific programming,” he said.
“There will also be great events for young people and families, with free films at BIFF in the Burbs and Cine Sparks, the Australian Film Festival for Young People.”
BIFF opens on Thursday 31 July with the Australian premiere of Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?, the satirical documentary from Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). Spurlock will travel to Brisbane to introduce his film. The festival closes with the Australian premiere of The Edge of Love, the story of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’s dramatic life.
The St George BIFF ticketed program runs 31 July-10 August. For more information about the festival program, screening locations and ticketing go to: www.stgeorgebiff.com.au.
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
Speaking at the official program launch for the 2008 St George Bank Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF), Mr Welford said Ledger would join other Australian film luminaries – including George Miller, Geoffrey Rush, Bryan Brown and Jack Thompson – in receiving the honour.
“The Chauvel Award is named after Charles and Elsa Chauvel, the husband and wife filmmaking team who championed Australia’s film industry in its early years,” Mr Welford said.
“Over the years, there have been many others who have drawn focus to the Australian film industry either through their own personal achievements in their field or their consistent and staunch support for Australian filmmaking.
“Heath Ledger did both, and his passing highlighted how loved and revered he was – not just by fans, but by the Australian filmmaking community.”
Mr Welford said friends and colleagues of Heath Ledger would attend the award presentation at The Regent Cinema on Thursday 7 August from 7pm. Hosted by David Stratton, the presentation will include interview and film material from Ledger’s career. This event will be open to the public with tickets on sale from today.
Mr Welford said the 2008 BIFF program offered more than 110 films at up to 200 sessions over 11 days.
“There are titles from 56 countries across the world, with this year’s BIFF continuing its tradition for quality retrospective and Asia-Pacific programming,” he said.
“There will also be great events for young people and families, with free films at BIFF in the Burbs and Cine Sparks, the Australian Film Festival for Young People.”
BIFF opens on Thursday 31 July with the Australian premiere of Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?, the satirical documentary from Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). Spurlock will travel to Brisbane to introduce his film. The festival closes with the Australian premiere of The Edge of Love, the story of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’s dramatic life.
The St George BIFF ticketed program runs 31 July-10 August. For more information about the festival program, screening locations and ticketing go to: www.stgeorgebiff.com.au.
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000