Bond students and graduates dominated the 20th Annual Queensland New Filmmakers Awards (QNFA), held at Griffith University’s Conservatorium Theatre on 11 April, scooping seven of the 17 awards on offer.
For the second successive year, a production by Bond students and Alumni won the prestigious Best Overall Film award, against fierce competition from not only other tertiary students, but also from the cream of Queensland’s independent producers.
Bond University made history as the award was announced, becoming the only tertiary institution ever to win top honours two years running, after “Periodic Reproduction”, produced by Bond Teaching Fellow Alex Fischer triumphed last year.
This year’s Best Overall Film award went to “How My Next Door Neighbour Discovered Life on Mars”. This inspirational story depicts a young boy realising his dreams and overcoming adversity with help from his aged neighbour. Current film and television students produced the film in partnership with recent graduates. The team was supported by the Bond Film and Television Centre with access to equipment and advice, as part of the Centre’s policy of encouraging students to form on-going working relationships that will extend well past graduation.
“Life on Mars” (its abbreviated title) was one of the stand-outs of the prestigious Filmmaker Awards Night, also receiving the award for Best Tertiary Drama Over Ten Minutes, the craft award for Best Sound, and the award for Best Producer.
Congratulations go to all involved, including Producers Alex Fewster, Daniel Lake and Trevor Smith, Writer Matthew Clayfield, Director Austin Andrews and Sound Technician Steven Guttormsen.
Among the other successes for Bond was the award for Best Male Actor, which went to Tom Tate for his role in “The Vanished”, Excellence in Editing went to Nadine Naesar for “It’s A Wonderful Life”, and the Encouragement Award for Cinematography was awarded to Matt Weston, also for “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
Director of Bond’s Film and Television Centre Professor Bruce Molloy said he was delighted with the result.
“This outstanding result is the best Bond effort to date, in what is considered the premier film competition in Queensland and one of the most prestigious in Australia.
“QNFA is particularly important as it attracts the highest level of sponsorship from film industry professional practitioners of any Australian film competition. Success at these awards goes a long way towards strengthening the reputation of the Bond program and its credibility within industry circles.
“Congratulations to all the students and graduates who produced entries in the 2006 QNFA and to the staff who assisted them.”