The Six Dollar Fifty Man last night took the top prize at Bondi’s short film festival, making it eligible for the 2011 Oscars.
The film, about an eight year-old boy who is forced to break out of his make-believe superhero world to deal with bullies, won $5000 and the Coopers Award for best film.
This is not the first prize for the film, written and directed by Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, and produced by Wendy Cuthbert; it previously received the Short Film Special Distinction at Cannes 2009.
The best Australian film category (sponsored by Madman, $3500) was conquered by Celestial Avenue.
ADVERTISEMENT
Adelaide’s The People’s Republic of Animation won the Yoram Gross Award for best short – animation ($1500) for The Cat Piano, directed by Eddie White and Ari Gibson, produced by Jessica Brentnall and narrated by Nick Cave. The film is also eligible for Oscar consideration.
The jury prize ($500) went to Luke Doolan’s Miracle Fish, which premiered at Sundance last year. Doolan’s film also won the Miller Australia Award for best cinematography.
An award for best use of digital technology went to a Canadian short, Next Floor (directed by Denis Villenue).
Flickerfest will begin its national tour in Byron Bay, hitting 23 venues such as Alice Springs, Brisbane, Perth, Bathurst, Hobart, Canberra, Melbourne and Townsville, until the end of March.
Coopers Award for Best Short Film
THE SIX DOLLAR FIFTY MAN
- Writer/Director: Mark Albiston & Louis Sutherland
- Producer: Wendy Cuthbert
- Country: New Zealand
- Duration: 15 mins
- Finished format: 35mm
- Year: 2009
Yoram Gross Award for Best Short Animation Film
Film: THE CAT PIANO
- Director: Eddie White & Ari Gibson
- Writer: Eddie White
- Producer: Jessica Brentnall
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 8:30 mins
- Format: 35mm
- Year: 2009
Movie Extra Special Jury Award
Film: MIRACLE FISH
- Writer/Director: Luke Doolan
- Producer: Drew Bailey
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 18 mins
- Format: 35mm
- Year: 2009
SAE Award for Best Use of Digital Technology in a Short Film
Film: NEXT FLOOR
- Director: Denis Velleneuve
- Producer: Phoebe Greenburg, Caroline Binet
- Country: Canada
- Duration: 11:30 mins
- Format: 35mm
National Geographic Award for Best Short Documentary
Film: WAGAH
- Writer/Director: Supriyo Sen
- Producer: Hennig Kamm & Fabian Gasmia
- Country: Germany
- Duration: 13:30 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009
Highly Commended Documentary
Film: CICADA
- Director: Amiel Courtin-Wilson
- Writer/Story: Daniel P Jones
- Producer: Sally Hussey
- Country Australia
- Duration: 9 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009
Film: SALT
- Director: Michael Angus & Murray Fredericks
- Writer/Producer: Michael Angus
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 26 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009
Madman Award for Best Australia Short Film
CELESTIAL AVENUE
- Writer/Director: Colin and Cameron Cairnes
- Producer: Scott Alexander
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 20 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009
Seed Productions Award for Best Achievement in an Original Australian Screenplay
Film: TOMORROW
- Director: Simon Portus
- Producer: David Curzon
Scriptwriter: Simon Portus
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 15 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2008
Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film
Film: TOMORROW
Director: Simon Portus
- Producer: David Curzon
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 15 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2008
SBS Television Award – Purchase of the film by SBS for Broadcast on Television
Film: GPS
- Writer/Director: Sam Bryant
- Producers: Andrew Morris, Lucas Jenner & Lawrence Foster
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 6 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009
Miller Australia Award for Best Cinematography in an Australian Short Film
Film: MIRACLE FISH
- Writer/Director: Luke Doolan
- Producer: Drew Bailey
Cinematographer: Brad Shield
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 18 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009
Avid Technology Award for Best Editing in an Australian Short
Film: GPS
- Writer/Director: Sam Bryant
- Producers: Andrew Morris, Lucas Jenner & Lawrence Foster
Editor: Mark Burnett
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 6 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009
Chaotic Pictures and Jungle Software Award for Most Resourceful Production
Film: NUMURKAH
- Writer/Director: Ryan Coonan
- Producer: James Hicks
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 12 mins
- Format: 35mm
- Year: 2008
Audioloc Sound Design Award for Best Achievement in Sound in an Australian Short
Film
Film: ZERO
- Writer/Director: Christopher Kezelos
- Producer: Christine Kezelos
Sound Design: Brendan O’Brien
- Country: Australia
- Duration: 13 mins
- Format: Video
- Year: 2009