Female filmmakers scoop ASDA Awards
07 April 2006
Respected director Phillip Noyce had to share the honours with emerging filmmakers Cate Shortland and Sarah Watt at last night’s Australian Screen Directors Association Awards at St Patrick’s Estate, Manly.
Shortland and Watt received the 2004 and 2005 ASDA Awards for Best Direction of a First Feature Film for Somersault and Look Both Ways respectively. Director Anthony Szeto also received an ASDA Special Achievement Award for his First Feature Film, the 2005 animated martial arts film Dragon Blade.
But the night belonged to Noyce, the full house of 220 paying homage to the director of Rabbit Proof Fence, Patriot Games and Dead Calm, who received the 2006 ASDA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Direction. A founding member of ASDA and former president, Noyce joined an esteemed list of past recipients of the Award including Peter Weir, Fred Schepisi and Ray Lawrence.
One of Australia's great directing talents and successful directing exports, Noyce only returned from London on Tuesday where he has been in post production for his next film Hotstuff. A political thriller starring Tim Robbins and Derek Luke, Hotstuff is based on the true story of Patrick Chamusso, an ordinary South African man forced to resort to terror in extraordinary circumstances.
Filmmakers Tom Jeffrey and Michael Carson received the 2006 ASDA Accreditation Award for Excellence in Direction. Carson's award was given posthumously as he passed away last year.
Honouring
2006 ASDA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Direction – Phillip Noyce
Also presenting
2006 ASDA Accreditation Award for Excellence in Direction – Michael Carson and Tom Jeffrey
2005 ASDA Award for Best Direction of a First Feature Film – Sarah Watt
2005 ASDA Award for Special Achievement in a First Feature Film – Anthony Szeto
2004 ASDA Award for Best Direction of a First Feature Film – Cate Shortland
In conjunction with the awards, ASDA will hold two FREE screenings of Phillip Noyce films at Dendy Opera Quays. Open to the public, tickets are available from the box office on the day only.
Backroads (1977) starring Bill Hunter, Gary Foley and Julie McGregor will be shown at 6.30pm on Friday, April 7.
Harrison Ford and Willem Defoe lead the cast in Clear and Present Danger (1994), to be screened at 6.30pm on Sunday, April 9.
Phillip Noyce and Margaret Pomeranz will hold a Q&A session after the screening of Clear and Present Danger with complimentary NOYCE BROS wine served.
More Information
WHAT: Screening of Backroads and Clear and Present Danger
WHEN: 6.30pm, Friday, April 7 and 6.30pm, Sunday, April 9, 2006
WHERE: Dendy Opera Quays
ENTRY: Free. Tickets at box office only.
Website: http://wwww.asdafilm.org.au
