Lexus Australia and Sydney Film Festival have announced leading Australian actress Marta Dusseldorp (A Place to Call Home) will chair the 2018 Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship Jury.
Jury Chair Marta Dusseldorp commented on the event saying, “The Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship for 2018 will give four Australian filmmakers the support to carry on telling their unique stories. I’m thrilled to be a part of this meaningful contribution to great artistic voices, which continue to be as important as ever.”
Dusseldorp, best known for her role in Australian drama A Place to Call Home, will be joined by Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley, Lexus Australia’s Vin Naidoo, Australian producer Greer Simpkin (Sweet Country) and President of the Australian Director’s Guild Samantha Lang.
The jury will also announce four new successful Fellows at the Premiere, each of whom will receive a $50,000 boost in order to produce their next short film. The films announced will premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in 2019.
Vin Naidoo, Senior Manager of Sales and Marketing of Lexus Australia commented, “Lexus Australia strongly supports initiatives that unearth progressive creative talent. Through the Fellowship, we aim to encourage emerging Australian filmmakers to explore new ideas, refine their craft and keep their art form moving forward”.
The four short film created by the recipients of the 2017 Fellowship films include The Coin by Thomas Baricevic, Fitting by Emily Avila, Kaya by Lara Köse and My Boy Oleg by Goran Stolevski, all of which will premiere at Dendy Opera Quays on Tuesday 12 June at 6:30 pm.
Nashen Moodley, Sydney Film Festival Director said, “The Festival is proud to present the trailers of these four outstanding new Australian films today. With stories of female companionship, ethnically diverse voices and a fresh take on the classic Western, the Lexus Fellows have proved to be of the highest calibre of emerging talent in Australia.”
Filmmaker Emily Avila added “As a new director, the Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship was an extraordinary gift. It afforded me the means to make my second short film, and the confidence to pursue directing seriously. It has truly set my directing career in motion and will have a lasting impact on my trajectory as a filmmaker,”.
“The Fellowship has given me an incredible opportunity to make a film in a landscape where funding for short films is a scarcity. I’m hoping the screening will give the film a boost both here in Australia and internationally,” said filmmaker Thomas Baricevic.
“The Fellowship has given me the chance to begin the journey of exploring my Alevi heritage through film, and I’m so grateful for that,” said filmmaker Lara Köse.
“The Fellowship has been a wonderful experience, a singular opportunity to hone and expand my visual style. As a result, we’ve created a story with a protagonist that’s vivid, gripping and like no one else we’ve seen on screen before,” said filmmaker Goran Stolevski.
The Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship allows young and emerging filmmakers to be assessed by key industry figures and premiere their work at Sydney Film Festival. The Fellowship aims to develop young talent, all while contributing to the longevity of both the medium, and the Australian filmmaking industry alike.
The Sydney Film Festival will run from the 6-17 June, 2018. For more information and ticket sales, you can call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au
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