Media releases - 0 Australian films win top awards at the Berlin International Film Festival

Two Australian films have won Crystal Bear awards at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival in an outstanding show of recognition of Australian talent. Kim Mordaunt's debut feature The Rocket won Best Feature in the Generation Kplus program. Matthew Moore's The Amber Amulet has been awarded Best Short Film in the same section.

The festival's Generation Kplus program is a section devoted to young people. Its children's and international juries also awarded Special Mentions to Catriona McKenzie's feature Satellite Boy.

The Rocket, written and directed by Kim Mordaunt and funded by Screen Australia, also won the Best First Feature Award and Amnesty International Film Prize at this year's Berlinale. The Rocket is the story of a Lao boy, who is thought to bring bad luck, who leads his family across war-torn Laos to the dangerous Rocket Festival.

Satellite Boy from first-time writer/director Catriona McKenzie, also funded by Screen Australia, features legendary actor David Gulpilil as the grandfather of a young boy trying to save his home.

Screen Australia's Head of Marketing, Kathleen Drumm, said, Recognition at an event like Berlin is a tremendous vote of confidence in Australia's emerging filmmaking talent.

We look forward to Australian audiences having the opportunity to see The Rocket and Satellite Boy when they are released in cinemas later this year.

This is the fourth year in a row an Australian film has been awarded the Crystal Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlinale. It is the second year running that filmmaker Matthew Moore has taken out this award, after his short Julian won in 2012. Adapted from the novella of the same name by Craig Silvey, The Amber Amulet is the story of a superhero, a beagle, an amulet made of amber, and the potential that is locked inside all of us.

Screen Australia supported the filmmakers of The Rocket and The Amber Amulet to attend the Berlin International Film Festival.

For details of all the Australian films that screened at the 2013 Berlinale and its associated European Film Market visit Screen Australia's Berlin website: www.australiaatberlin.com

THE ROCKET

www.therocket-movie.com

96 mins

Production Company Red Lamp Films Pty Ltd

Producer Sylvia Wilczynski

Exec Producers Bridget Ikin, Triphet Rookachat, Michael Wrenn

Associate Producer Pauline Phayvanh Phoumindr

Writer/Director Kim Mordaunt

Cast Sitthiphon Disamoe, Loungnam Kaosainam, Thep Phongam

International Sales LevelK ApS

Australian Distributor Curious Film

Synopsis A boy who is believed to bring bad luck leads his family and a couple of ragged misfits through Laos to find a new home. After a calamity-filled journey through a land scarred by war, to prove he's not cursed he builds a giant rocket to enter the most lucrative but dangerous competition of the year: the Rocket Festival.

SATELLITE BOY

satelliteboymovie.com

90 mins

Production Company Satellite Films

Producers David Jowsey, Julie Ryan

Writer/Director Catriona McKenzie

Cast David Gulpilil, Cameron Wallaby

International Sales Celluloid Dreams

Australian Distributor Hopscotch eOne Films

Synopsis Pete is 10 years old and lives in the outback with his grandfather in an old abandoned outdoor cinema. When his home is threatened by developers, Pete travels to the city with his best friend Kalmain to try and save his home.

THE AMBER AMULET

22 mins

Production Companies Goalpost Pictures, Year of the Rabbit Films

Writers Matthew Moore, Genevieve Hegney

Adapted from the novella by Craig Silvey

Director Matthew Moore

Producers Lauren Edwards, Genevieve Hegney, Matthew Moore

Cast Ed Oxenbould, Genevieve Hegney, Eliza Logan

Synopsis This is the story of a superhero, a beagle, an amulet made of amber, and the potential that is locked inside all of us.

Media Enquiries

Teri Calder T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995

teri.calder@screenaustralia.gov.au

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_130218_berli...
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