Published Sunday, 07 December, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Top honours for Queensland filmmakers at 2008 AFI Awards
Arts Minister Rod Welford today congratulated the Queensland winners of the L’Oreal Paris 2008 Australia Film Institute (AFI) Awards.
“The AFI Awards, announced last night at a star-studded ceremony at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, recognise and celebrate excellence in Australian film and television production,” Mr Welford said.
“I am thrilled by the high number of awards received by Queenslanders and Queensland-based projects this year – there were 12 local winners all up.
“It is pleasing to see local productions, filmmakers and actors gaining the recognition they so richly deserve.
“Queensland feature film Unfinished Sky took out six AFI Awards from a staggering ten nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Lead Actor – William McInnes.
“The New Holland Pictures feature film, which was made with production funding from the Pacific Film and Television Commission (PFTC), is a prime example of the exceptional quality of locally-generated films in Queensland.
“Unfinished Sky was a labour of love for so many talented Queenslanders, shot on location in and around Boonah and Beaudesert.
“The story seems to have really appealed to Australian and international audiences.”
Since its premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival last year, Unfinished Sky has screened at festivals all over the world, taken over $1 million at the Australian box office, and just last month received four Inside Film (IF) Awards.
Other Queensland winners at the 2008 AFI Awards include – Gold Coast-based children’s television program H2O: Just Add Water for Best Visual Effects; Rare Chicken Rescue for Best Sound in a Documentary; Dog With Electric Collar by Steve Baker and Damon Escott for Best Short Animation; Brisbane-born actor Gyton Grantley picked up best lead actor in a drama series for his portrayal of underworld figure Carl Williams in Underbelly and former Queensland filmmaker, Elissa Down, won Best Direction for The Black Balloon.
The 50th AFI Awards ceremony was held at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre last night (6 December) and was broadcast live on the Nine Network.
Queensland winners in the L’Oreal Paris 2008 Australia Film Institute (AFI) Awards:
Feature Film:
Best Adapted Screenplay – Peter Duncan, Unfinished Sky
Best Cinematography – Robert Humphreys ACS, Unfinished Sky
Best Sound – Andrew Plain, Annie Breslin and Will Ward, Unfinished Sky
Best Original Music Score – Antony Partos, Unfinished Sky
Best Lead Actor – William McInnes, Unfinished Sky
Best Lead Actress – Monic Hendrickx, Unfinished Sky
Best Direction – Elissa Down (former Queenslander), The Black Balloon
Best Original Screenplay – Elissa Down and Jimmy The Exploder, The Black Balloon
Television:
Visual Effects Award – Barry Lanfranchi, H2O: Just Add Water (Series 2)
Best Lead Actor – Gyton Grantley (former Queenslander), Underbelly
Non-Feature:
Best Sound in a Documentary – Brett Aplin, Greg Docwra, John Willsteed and David White, Rare Chicken Rescue
Best Short Animation – Steve Baker and Damon Escott, Dog With Electric Collar
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336
“The AFI Awards, announced last night at a star-studded ceremony at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, recognise and celebrate excellence in Australian film and television production,” Mr Welford said.
“I am thrilled by the high number of awards received by Queenslanders and Queensland-based projects this year – there were 12 local winners all up.
“It is pleasing to see local productions, filmmakers and actors gaining the recognition they so richly deserve.
“Queensland feature film Unfinished Sky took out six AFI Awards from a staggering ten nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Lead Actor – William McInnes.
“The New Holland Pictures feature film, which was made with production funding from the Pacific Film and Television Commission (PFTC), is a prime example of the exceptional quality of locally-generated films in Queensland.
“Unfinished Sky was a labour of love for so many talented Queenslanders, shot on location in and around Boonah and Beaudesert.
“The story seems to have really appealed to Australian and international audiences.”
Since its premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival last year, Unfinished Sky has screened at festivals all over the world, taken over $1 million at the Australian box office, and just last month received four Inside Film (IF) Awards.
Other Queensland winners at the 2008 AFI Awards include – Gold Coast-based children’s television program H2O: Just Add Water for Best Visual Effects; Rare Chicken Rescue for Best Sound in a Documentary; Dog With Electric Collar by Steve Baker and Damon Escott for Best Short Animation; Brisbane-born actor Gyton Grantley picked up best lead actor in a drama series for his portrayal of underworld figure Carl Williams in Underbelly and former Queensland filmmaker, Elissa Down, won Best Direction for The Black Balloon.
The 50th AFI Awards ceremony was held at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre last night (6 December) and was broadcast live on the Nine Network.
Queensland winners in the L’Oreal Paris 2008 Australia Film Institute (AFI) Awards:
Feature Film:
Best Adapted Screenplay – Peter Duncan, Unfinished Sky
Best Cinematography – Robert Humphreys ACS, Unfinished Sky
Best Sound – Andrew Plain, Annie Breslin and Will Ward, Unfinished Sky
Best Original Music Score – Antony Partos, Unfinished Sky
Best Lead Actor – William McInnes, Unfinished Sky
Best Lead Actress – Monic Hendrickx, Unfinished Sky
Best Direction – Elissa Down (former Queenslander), The Black Balloon
Best Original Screenplay – Elissa Down and Jimmy The Exploder, The Black Balloon
Television:
Visual Effects Award – Barry Lanfranchi, H2O: Just Add Water (Series 2)
Best Lead Actor – Gyton Grantley (former Queenslander), Underbelly
Non-Feature:
Best Sound in a Documentary – Brett Aplin, Greg Docwra, John Willsteed and David White, Rare Chicken Rescue
Best Short Animation – Steve Baker and Damon Escott, Dog With Electric Collar
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336