Port Shorts success

Honouring filmmakers

Paul Makin

Journalist

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The iconic Rex Smeal Park was the perfect setting for this year’s Port Shorts Film Festival. IMAGE Supplied

"Lights, Camera, Action!" It was all happening at the 2022 Port Shorts Film Festival. Acclaimed actor Rarriwuy Hick joined fellow actor Stephen Curry and Wolf Creek Producer Matt Hearn for this year’s event which was held in perfect conditions at the iconic Rex Smeal Park Port Douglas.

Rarriwuy starred in the hit Australian series Redfern Now, Cleverman, Wentworth and the recent SBS hit True
Colours. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of Port Shorts as I know how much Steve values not just the quality of short films showcased at the festival but the beauty of the region and warmth of the local community” she said.

Money and prizes

The organisers call Port Shorts the coolest film festival in the heart of the tropics. It provides filmmakers of all experience levels with not just the opportunity to share in more than $15,000 in cash and prizes, but the chance to engage with some of Australia’s finest film makers. A crowd of around 1000 took popcorn in hand and saw the curtain raised on the best forty short films from our backyard and around the world.

The winners

Glen Stasiuk took home the gong and the $5000 major prize in the Open Film Award with his film Survivors of Wadjemup. Wadjemup’ was on WA’s Rottnest Island and although the Isle is famous for its cute and cuddly Quokkas, it’s past is far more sinister. An Aboriginal prison was established there in 1839 and used for that purpose until 1904. Around 4,000 Aboriginal men and boys were incarcerated on the Island, many of them having been transported in chains for thousands of miles. During the prison years it is reported that around 370 Aboriginal prisoners died. For those who got off the island, their descendants proudly tell their story in this now award-winning short film.

The Drone Award went to South African film Perspective by Simon Mulholland. It’s a beautiful bird’s eye view of the KwaZulu-Natal province during the Covid lockdown. The short film highlights the empty places, the buildings and streets, the homes where people spent their lockdown. Throughout the film, you get to listen to the late Nelson Mandela talking about the spectacular beauty of South Africa.

Benny and The Clones took out the Local Film Award with Clones Go Camping, three crazy Aussie blokes who talk a lot of nonsense, or is that nun sense? They even declare war on Yowies (Australia’s Bigfoot) threatening to shoot their young. It’s very funny stuff.

The Man from Mooroolbark was the audience favourite and actress Catherine Lillian was awarded the Port Shorts Jury Award for her performance in The Hunted.

Mason Hannam took out the Port Shorts Young Filmmaker Award major prize of a $2000 Sony mirrorless camera kit, with his special effects-enhanced Demonic Daydream. Frank Low won the Junior Filmmaker Award for The Science of Stress and Amalia Safanova picked up the ATOM Queensland Emerging Artist Award for Banana. Melbourne filmmaker W.A.M. Bleakley picked up his second Music Video award for The Belligerents’ music video Emily while Abby Velthelm earned the PSYFA Shout Out award with My Friend Ana and Japanese entry Joshou winning the Music Video Shout Out award.

See them for free
You can watch the winning films and all the finalists until Sunday 23rd October at https://watch.portshorts.com/

Around 1000 people attended this year’s event. IMAGE Supplied

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