Young Caboolture talent Charlie Falconer has been named âBest Overall Filmmakerâ at the prestigious Bond University Film and Television Awards (BUFTA) for her documentary, Manu, and comedy, Cue Overreaction, which also won âBest Achievement in Directingâ.
The Grace Lutheran College student was awarded a full scholarship to study a Bachelor of Film and Television at Bond University on the Gold Coast, after taking home the top accolade at the 23rd annual BUFTA Gala Award Ceremony on the weekend (Saturday, 24 November). Â
The University received almost 200 entries for BUFTA this year, with just 16 students selected as nominees in the competition, which is one of the largest of its kind for high school students in Australia.  Â
The Gala Award Ceremony - hosted by popular Australian film, television and radio personality James Mathison - reached full capacity this year, with nominees, their families and industry leaders coming together to recognise and celebrate some of the countryâs most talented student filmmakers.
Charlie said she was shocked and delighted to be awarded the Best Overall Filmmaker award.
âI did not expect this. Itâs the most amazing thing to happen to me in my life so far,â she said. Â
âFilmmaking has always been my passion and it always will be.
âI really want to become a cinematographer. Iâve heard itâs a boy club and Iâm keen to change that.
âWhat I love about filmmaking is how you can express whatever youâre feeling and make it into a film that a lot of people can relate to and enjoy - thatâs what really inspires me.â
Charlieâs comedy, Cue Overreaction, took on the gangster genre, while in sharp contrast her documentary âManuâ tackled alcoholism and addiction.
âWith Manu, I really wanted to share my Uncleâs story in the hope that it would help others, but then on the flipside, with Cue Overreaction, I wanted to create something that would make people laugh and that they could enjoy,â she said.
âIâm really excited for the future and what is to come, especially if I get to see the other incredible nominees here tonight when I arrive on campus at Bond.â
Adding to the level of talent at this yearâs competition was Brisbane-based Queensland Academy of Creative Industries student, Anna Kabut, who received the âJury Prizeâ of a part-scholarship to Bond University, as well as a âCraft Award for Best Achievement in Screenwritingâ for her comedy, Inheritance.
Byron DâArcy from All Saints Anglican School was awarded City of Gold Coastâs âBest Gold Coast Filmmaker Awardâ, as well as âBest Achievement in Music Videoâ for his entry, Throw the Dog a Bone.
âThe Deanâs Choiceâ was awarded to Jamisyn Chapman from Mary MacKillop College in Brisbane for her music video, Not Worth Hiding, with the talented student also taking out âBest Achievement in Experimentalâ for her film, âImage en Mouvementâ.
Hillcrest Christian College on the Gold Coast was named âBest Schoolâ on the night, with student, Michaela Sutherland, receiving âBest Achievement in Documentaryâ for her film, Born and Bred, and Nathan Donly winning the âCraft Award for Best Achievement in Soundâ for his drama, Paradox.
Ruby McIntosh of St Ritaâs College in Clayfield won the Videopro Peopleâs Choice Award for her Experimental short film, Anamnesis and walked away with a $1,250 gift card to spend at Videopro.Â
Bond University Director of Film and Television, Associate Professor Michael Sergi, said Charlieâs win was hard-fought and well-deserved.
âBUFTA is an invaluable opportunity for young filmmakers from right around Australia, and each year it is an extremely daunting task for the judges to select only a handful of nominees from hundreds of high-quality entries.
âTo be selected as a nominee is a fantastic achievement in itself and it was incredible to see all the nominees and their families come together to support and celebrate each otherâs achievements.
âThe Best Overall Filmmaker award recognises a young filmmaker who has demonstrated passion, ingenuity, creativity, and artistic ability in all areas of filmmaking.
âFor Charlie to be nominated in two such different genres as comedy and documentary - and then also take home 'Best Achievement in Directing' - shows she is enormously talented and has the makings of a stand-out filmmaker.
"We look forward to Charlie joining us next year when she commences her Bachelor of Film and Television degree, and have no doubt she has the talent and drive needed to pursue a successful career in the film and television industry.â
Dr Sergi said it wasnât too early for year 11 and 12 high school students throughout Australia to make a start on their BUFTA entries for next year.
âEach year we continue to see an increase in the quality of entries and encourage young filmmakers to get started on their films now,â he said.
Bond University Executive Dean of the Faculty of Society & Design, Professor Derek Carson, said he was incredibly proud of the universityâs current film and TV students who had worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure BUFTA was an industry-quality event.
âEvery aspect of the gala event - from the research and scriptwriting, pre-production, staging and broadcast, through to the promotion and livestream which was watched by a global audience â was carried out by Bondâs first-year students,â Professor Carson said.
âHere at Bond we pride ourselves on providing authentic learning experiences and we go that extra mile to ensure that when our students graduate, they are as well prepared for the industries they aspire to work in as they possibly can be.
âBUFTA is a wonderful example of this and Iâd like to thank each and every student and staff member for an incredible performance.â
Below is a full list of winners for the 2018 BUFTA Awards:Â
MAJOR PRIZE - BEST OVERALL FILMMAKER:Â Charlie Falconer, Grace Lutheran College (QLD) â Cue Overreaction & Manu
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION:Â Natalie Yeung, Huntingtower School (VIC) â Kaleidoscope
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY:Â Austin Macfarlane, Anglican Church Grammar School (QLD) â The Sock Dimension Â
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DOCUMENTARY:Â Michaela Sutherland, Hillcrest Christian College (QLD) â Born and Bred
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA:Â Jock Plastow, Glenunga International High School (SA) â YellowÂ
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EXPERIMENTAL:Â Jamisyn Chapman, Mary MacKillop College (QLD) â Image en Mouvement
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC VIDEO:Â Byron DâArcy, All Saints Anglican School (QLD) â Throw The Dog a Bone
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING:Â Charlie Falconer, Grace Lutheran College (QLD) â Cue Overreaction
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENWRITING:Â Anna Kubat, Queensland Academy of Creative Industries (QLD) â Inheritance
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY:Â Jock Plastow, Glenunga International High School (SA) â Yellow
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING:Â Oakley Hands, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School (WA) â Run Free
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND:Â Nathan Donly, Hillcrest Christian College (QLD) â Paradox
CITY OF GOLD COAST FILMMAKER:Â Byron DâArcy, All Saints Anglican School (QLD) â Throw The Dog a Bone
BEST SCHOOL AWARD:Â Hillcrest Christian College (QLD)
VIDEOPRO PEOPLEâS CHOICE AWARD:Â Ruby McIntosh, St Ritaâs College (QLD) â Anamnesis
DEANâS CHOICE AWARD: Jamisyn Chapman, Mary MacKillop College (QLD) â Not Worth Hiding
JURY PRIZE:Â Anna Kubat, Queensland Academy of Creative Industries (QLD) â Inheritance
For more information on BUFTA, visit www.bufta.com.au or check out the eventâs Facebook page.