Winners announced for local short film festival

Port Shorts

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Port Shorts 2021 Winning Films from Port Shorts Inc on Vimeo.

Well known Aussie actor, Stephen Curry, announced the winners in his role as festival ambassador. Click play to watch the video


The 2021 Port Shorts Virtual Film Festival celebrated a spectacular online showcase of short films from our own backyard and around the world on Saturday night with legendary Aussie actor and festival ambassador Stephen Curry announcing the worthy winners.

Film buffs were treated to a free small screen smorgasbord from October 16-23 with the Port Shorts Virtual Film Festival featuring 53 amazing short films across the Open, Local, Music Video and Youth categories.

Perth filmmaker Poppy van Oorde-Grainger collected the $5000 major cash prize for her mesmerising production Two Sands which depicts the struggles of a South Sudanese student on his first day in high school in Australia as he bridges the gap between where he has come from and where he is.

New Caledonia production 52 Meters Later earned filmmakers Frederic Rabaud and Clotilde Gourdon the Jury prize from festival organisers for their futuristic telling of an old tale passed through the generations in traditional islander language.

Zak Marrinan’s hilarious Animal Work won over the crowd to be crowned Audience Choice winner.
Port Douglas local Yan Aung Soe was awarded the Local Filmmaker prize for his story of two tourists making friends after being caught by closed borders during COVID-19, Wings At North.

Victorian student Ruby Taylor received $2500 in equipment from Sony for winning the Port Shorts Young Filmmaker Award with her stop-motion mini masterpiece The Girl Who Cried Sick.

Melbourne filmmaker Lucy Knox collected a second Port Shorts Music Video Award for her touching portrayal of the Clare Bowditch love song If I Could Give You.

This year also saw the launch of PS Stories, a revealing series of discussions with filmmakers Hayden Bevis and Lachlan Millsom, Radheya Jegatheva, Abi Muir, Lucy Knox, Dean Miller, Jon Coghill, Vasco Gonsalves and Steeve Body and Janne Rytkonen and Ida Vauhkonen giving fascinating insights into their screen industry journeys that all filmmakers can learn from.

The festival also featured virtual workshops with industry experts XM2 (drone), Steeve Body (sound design), Ashley Davies (producing) and Festival Ambassador Kier Shorey (screenwriting).

Port Shorts Film Festival Director Alison George praised filmmakers for producing such quality short films despite the impacts of the global pandemic on the arts community.

“This was without the doubt the best line-up of short films we’ve showcased in the history of Port Shorts which is a reflection of how many talented filmmakers are out there committed to sharing their stories regardless of what challenges they face,” Ali said.

“On behalf of Port Shorts organisers we’d like to thank all the filmmakers who contributed to the success of this year’s virtual festival and we look forward to welcoming everyone back when Port Shorts returns to the tropical paradise of Port Douglas for our live event on October 14-15 next year.”

Curry, who hosts the live event held in idyllic Rex Smeal Park with the Coral Sea and Daintree Rainforest as the backdrop, said he and fellow Victorian-based Festival Ambassador Matt Hearn (Wolf Creek & Rogue producer) already have their bags packed for Port Shorts 2022.

“Hearny and I have been dreaming about floating down the Mossman River through the rainforest on a lilo and enjoying Port Shorts under the stars again for a while now so good luck trying to stop us getting to Port Douglas for next year’s festival,” Curry said.

“I’ve already got my favourite double-pluggers and tropical shirt packed and recommend anyone who loves short films and good times does the same.”

2021 PORT SHORTS VIRTUAL FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS

PORT SHORTS OPEN FILMMAKER AWARD
TWO SANDS
Poppy van Oorde-Grainger

PORT SHORTS LOCAL FILMMAKER AWARD
WINGS AT NORTH
Yan Aung Soe

PORT SHORTS YOUNG FILMMAKER AWARD
THE GIRL WHO CRIED SICK
Ruby Taylor

PORT SHORTS MUSIC VIDEO AWARD
IF I COULD GIVE YOU (Clare Bowditch)
Lucy Knox

PORT SHORTS JURY PRIZE
52 METERS LATER
Frederic Rabaud & Clotilde Gourdon

PORT SHORTS AUDIENCE CHOICE
ANIMAL WORK
Zak Marrinan

  

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