Clanton, the jury’s president, said Uzeyman and Williams’ work stood out from the rest, noting its subversive themes presented on-screen in a uniquely impactful way.
“By disrupting the colonial gaze and connecting the rising influence of technology in all our lives, this film penetrates deeply into your heart and soul to say that you are not too far disconnected from me,” Clanton said after the deliberations were complete.
“It felt at once absolutely specific, and entirely global.”
Introduced in part to celebrate MIFF’s 70th anniversary, the award was also created to boost the Victorian arts scene post-pandemic, and to further cultivate the state’s global reputation in film. With the support of VicScreen, the prize will be funded by the state government for its first four years.
Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos applauded the winners of the Bright Horizon award, noting MIFF’s global influence in film and its power to support jobs within Victoria’s creative industries.
“Through this competition we’ve supported MIFF to become one of the leading film festivals in the world, showcasing Victoria as a global screen powerhouse with cutting-edge production facilities, iconic locations and world-class creative talent,” Dimopoulos said.
“Congratulations to all the winners, nominees and participating filmmakers. This landmark competition is a fantastic way to wrap up two weeks of screen brilliance here in Melbourne.”
Neptune Frost took out best film at the Melbourne International Film Festival
The second prize of the night – the Australian Innovation Award – went to director Jub Clerc for his involvement in Sweet Asthe dramatic depiction of an Indigenous teenager’s discovery of photography in Western Australia.
Funded by Melbourne-based screen technology company Black Magic, Clerc won a handsome $70,000 for their outstanding creativity during the creation of the cinematically picturesque coming-of-age drama.
Winner: Saul Williams
Clerc took to the stage to accept the award in person, tears in her eyes. As a proud Aboriginal woman, she said winning went far beyond a title.
“My heart is going a 1000 kilometers an hour,” Clerc told The Age after the announcement was made.
“This means a billion things. I sat there for a moment and everything really went still and quiet, and I felt like all of my ancestors were there with me, especially my mum.
“There was a very unspoken history of what it meant to get this award … I felt the weight of a million women and all my ancestors, but it was lifting. So we can push and lift at the same time.”
Noting that she had sat at the back of the room, not expecting to win an award, Clerc said she was still processing the shock of receiving the prize over the other worthy nominees.
Clanton, who shed a few tears during Clerc’s acceptance speech, said the film was more than just “sweet”.
“It crossed worlds and intersected certain realities – incredibly difficult to achieve, even for any accomplished filmmaker.
“We are so excited to see what happens next in this filmmaker’s journey, and hope that this award encourages their future filmmaking projects. That it not just inspires more Indigenous women to be central characters in their own stories, but helps show just how resilient and beautiful Indigenous women are.”
The closing gala – hosted by Sri Lankan-Australian comedian Dilruk Jayasinha – also featured the re-introduced MIFF Audience Award, selected by festival-goers from a program of over 250 features. Greenhouse by Joost, an ode to global sustainability and directed by Bruce Permezel and Rhian Skirving, was announced the winner.
Congratulating the night’s various winners, MIFF artistic director Al Cossar was impressed by the cinematic standard maintained throughout the festival’s full program, which included 371 features and shorts.
“MIFF’s Awards are about elevating distinctive, ambitious, bold new voices that deserve and demand a global stage. My congratulations to Neptune Frost‘s Anisia Uzeyman and Saul Williams, and to Jub Clerc, for their incredible work and deserved recognition as our inaugural awards recipients,” Cossar said.
There will be encore screenings of Neptune Frost and Sweet As at The Capitol on Sunday in celebration of their achievements. Session details and tickets are available on miff.com.au.
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