Curtin University of Technology film students and graduates have scored three out of the six nominations for the best tertiary film at this year’s WA Screen Awards.
Short films — Bedtime Stories, Mia and Chasing Rabbits — are all in the running for the prestigious award which will be announced on Saturday 6 March at the Perth Concert Hall.
Curtin’s Department of Film, TV and Screen Arts Head, Howard Worth, said he was pleased to see Curtin graduates being nominated for this award.
“We are very proud of our 2010 nominations; this continues the history of Curtin students’ success in the Awards. We wish them all continued success in the film industry,” he said.
Bedtime Stories, produced by graduate Christopher Nixon and directed by student Magnus Roervik, is a story about nine-year-old Lucy who creates a fairytale world to escape the harsh reality of life.
Mr Nixon, of Waterford, said the seven-and-a-half minute film took almost a whole year to produce.
“This is the first narrative film I have produced and it has been a challenging, exciting and fantastic experience,” he said.
“What I enjoy most about film-making are the people that you have the privilege of working with including the talented and gifted individuals that act, design, edit, compose and support the project.”
Director and writer of Mia, Elyse Hickey of Mt Hawthorn who graduated in February, said the short film was about a girl’s adventure that turns into a nightmare.
“I spent a few months writing this story and the film is very different to the original storyline. It’s very exciting to see one of my story ideas being turned into a film,” she said.
“The story is about a 10-year-old Mia who runs away to the circus with her best friend. On the way to the train station, however, her best friend is hit by the train and Mia blames herself.”
Chasing Rabbits is the story of Jack Costa, a young man whose world is shattered when he loses the girl of his dreams.
The short film, directed by Adrian Pinto and produced by John Barker, both current students, is a gentle and emotional story that deals with love, grief and loss.
The WA Screen Awards celebrates innovation and the achievements of WA filmmakers, from students through to established industry professionals.
