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Finalists Announced for SA Short Screen Awards 2006
SA’s Premier Competition for Emerging Filmmakers

The Media Resource Centre (MRC) announced today the finalists for the 2006 SA Short Screen Awards, proudly driven by Toyota. The SA Short Screen Awards (SASSA) is SA’s premier competition for local emerging filmmakers, with prizes for thirteen different genre and craft categories.

Director of the MRC, Imogen Selley, said today ‘The quality of the films submitted this year is outstanding and reflects a depth and breadth of talent and a bright future for filmmaking in SA’.

The finalists for the top prize of Best Film range from animation to drama to comedy, with filmmakers working on budgets from $500 to $200,000 and the ages of the directors ranging from 20 years old up to 50. The five finalists for 2006 are:

Azadi – Directed by Anthony Maras
Train Runner – Directed by Trevor Wright
Orange Lane - Directed by Jessica Asz
Carnivore Reflux – Directed by Eddie White & James Calvert
Belzhik – Directed by Nima Nabili Rad

Some of these films have achieved international success with Azadi being screened at over ten international film festivals and Carnivore Reflux a finalist at this years’ Tropfest. However, many films will be receiving their world premiere at The Best Of the SA Short Screen Awards which are open to the public and will be held at the Mercury Cinema over 3 nights on 7, 14, 15 April at 7.30pm. Tickets for all screenings can be purchased in advance from the MRC or from the Mercury Cinema on the night. All tickets $9. Limited tickets are available for the Gala Awards Night, $17. Call 8410 0979 for details.

The craft finalists come from twenty-five nominated films, representing the widest cross section of work selected across the 14 different categories since the Awards began seven years ago. Full list of nominees is at the foot of this release.

The depth of talent evident in the films submitted suitably impressed the judges for the awards.

Ben McEachen, film editor for The Advertiser and a member of the 2006 SASSA judging panel said,’ Being most frequently exposed to feature films from across the world, seeing the high standard of short films created in South Australia was an experience to be recommended. Not only do the production values of many far exceed budget restrictions, but this year's entries also demonstrate the impressive results that can be achieved in a relatively small movie community. It was a great privilege to be able to consider such a number of professional, driven projects.’

Writer/director Shane McNeil, of Smoking Gun Productions, was equally impressed. ‘While being asked to sit in a small, dark room and watch over 12 hours of local short films might sound like a scenario from A Clockwork Orange, it was still an 'eye-opening' experience. As a judge it was refreshing to view films dealing with serious social issues such as homelessness, refugees and youth suicide balanced against comical shorts concerning unrequited love, aquatic surgery and celebrity stalking. If memory serves me, the films in the 2006 Short Screen awards are the best yet...’

The red carpet rolls out on Friday 21 April for the Black Tie Gala Awards Night, with Master of Ceremonies, SBS’ Movie Show host Jaimie Leonarder. The leading lights of the South Australian film industry will be on hand to show support as the next generation of filmmaking talent takes centre stage.