The 68th Sydney Film Festival (3-14 November 2021) has today announced the return of the 52nd Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films and the sixth annual Europe! Voices of Women in Film program, in partnership with Dendy Cinemas and the European Film Promotion respectively.
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley said, “The Festival is proud to once again showcase the incredible works of Australian filmmakers as part of the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films.
Having launched the careers of countless renowned directors, writers, producers and other film creatives over the course of its 52 year-history, the Festival will premiere another cohort of 10 superb new short films.”
Ten finalists for the prestigious Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films will screen in the Festival. Australia’s longest running short film competition is now in its 52nd year and has been sponsored by Dendy Cinemas since 1989.
Finalists:
– DWARF PLANET | 2020 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Adrian Chiarella
– FREEDOM SWIMMER | 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Olivia Martin-McGuire
– LIFEBLOOD | 2021 | Australia | Director, Producer: Nicholas Tory
– THE MOOGAI | 2020| Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Jon Bell
– OFF THE RAILS | 2021 | Australia | Directors, Screenwriters, Producers: Bel Holborow, Isabelle Coury
– PEEPS | 2020| Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Sophie Somerville
– SHARK| 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Nash Edgerton
– THE STRANGER | 2020| Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Jenny Hicks
– TINASHÉ | 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Tig Terera
– Tough| 2021 | Australia | Director, Screenwriter: Taylor Ferguson
EUROPE! VOICES OF WOMEN IN FILM Supported by European Film Promotion
Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley said, “Audiences can also look forward to 10 essential films from Europe’s most exciting women directors as part of the Europe! Voices of Women in Film program. From revered award-winners to powerful examinations of prejudice and inequality, as well as a provocative exploration of the U.S. porn industry, these films are sure to resonate with Festival audiences.”
In partnership with European Film Promotion, Sydney Film Festival presents the sixth annual Europe! Voices of Women in Film; a program of 10 new films from vital European women filmmakers. From Slovenia to Sweden, and Kosovo to Greece, Europe! Voices of Women in Film shines a spotlight on exciting, talented women filmmakers.
Impactful debut features that have been selected for Cannes include: Pleasure, a bold drama about a young Swedish woman striving for success in LA’s ruthless porn industry; Slalom, an unflinching portrait of the abuse experienced by a teenage competitive skier at the hands of her domineering coach; and Last Days of Spring, a poignant blend of fiction and documentary exploring the plight of a family facing eviction from a Madrid shantytown.
The program also includes a number of captivating documentaries: From the Wild Sea dives into the work of volunteers tirelessly trying to rescue Europe’s marine life from pollution and the impacts of climate change; and How to Kill a Cloud sees a Finnish scientist take on a multimillion-dollar project to make it rain in the desert.
Films:
FROM THE WILD SEA | 2021 | Denmark | Director: Robin Petré
GREEN SEA | 2020 | Greece | Director, Screenwriter: Angeliki Antoniou
HIVE | 2021 | Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania | Director, Screenwriter: Blerta
Basholli
HOW TO KILL A CLOUD | 2021| Finland, Denmark | Director, Screenwriter: Tuija Halttunen
LAST DAYS OF SPRING | 2020 | Netherlands, Spain | Director, Screenwriter: Isabel Lamberti
NICO | 2021| Germany | Director: Eline Gehring
PLEASURE| 2021 | Sweden, Netherlands, France | Director, Screenwriter: Ninja Thyberg
RECONCILIATION | 2021| Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo | Director: Marija Zidar
SLALOM | 2020 | France | Director, Screenwriter: Charlène Favier
WHY NOT YOU | 2020 | Austria, Belgium | Director, Screenwriter: Evi Romen