The finalists in the annual Bond University Film and Television Awards have been announced with the winners to be presented at a gala dinner on November 25, 2011.
The nation’s most significant short film competition for high school students attracted almost double the amount of entries from 2010 with films ranging from comedy to drama and documentary to animation.
Director of Film and Television at Bond University Associate Professor Michael Sergi said, “As a university film school, we think it is very important we encourage and acknowledge the efforts of these dynamic young filmmakers.
“BUFTA motivates them, gives them a goal to aim for and helps them to believe achieving their dreams is possible,” said Associate Professor Sergi.
Students were required to enter an original short-film in one of six categories: Animation; Drama; Documentary; Experimental; Comedy and Music Video. They could also be nominated for a Craft Award recognising technical skills such as screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing and sound design.
Many of the young filmmakers have their sights set on the fiercely contested Award for Best Overall Filmmaker and the prize of a full tuition scholarship to study a Bachelor of Film and Television at Bond University.
The 2010 top gong was taken out by Joshua Beattie from the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries who created a moving drama piece To Claire; From Sonny and who will start his studies at Bond in 2012.
Associate Professor Sergi said this year’s entries were again of an exceptionally high standard and showed a diverse range of initiative and creativity.
“It was exciting receiving so many quality films this year,” said Associate Professor Sergi.
“The judging panel had a tough job deciding who the winners were, and we are proud of each of the finalists.”
The gala dinner will see finalists from around Australia head to the Gold Coast for an Oscars-style ceremony on November 25 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm in the Princeton Ballroom on Bond University’s campus.
For the first time the BUFTAs will be streamed live online at www.bufta.com.au/ with live updates posted to the Facebook page throughout the ceremony.
The finalist films are currently being shown on the BUFTA Facebook page www.facebook.com/bufta.