WA Screen Culture Awards winners announced
Celebrating the achievement, innovation and ambition of our local industry, the WA Screen Culture Awards (WASCAs) embrace all forms from new, established and emerging screen practices.
Cheeky comedy-drama HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN scooped a pleasing four awards (out of six nominations) at the 2022 WA Screen Culture Awards held on Sunday 4 December at Luna Cinemas Leederville – including Innovation in Narrative Feature Film with a budget over $1m; Outstanding Achievement in Editing – Merlin Eden; Outstanding Achievement in Performance – Hayley McElhinney; and Outstanding Achievement in Writing – Renee Webster.
Webster’s debut feature was filmed in Fremantle and Perth in 2021. Released in May this year on over 250 screens nationwide, the film struck a chord with audiences and critics alike drawn to the charming comedy classic.
Indie filmmaking triumph PIECES, which explores the devastating impact of mental illness took home the Innovation in Narrative Feature Film with a budget under $1m. A personal project for director Martin Wilson, PIECES was shot on a budget of just $150,000.
The understated documentary NAMARALI, which tells the story behind the spirit figure that rose up into the stadium at the Sydney Olympic Opening Ceremony, was awarded Innovation in Feature Documentary.
And Oscar-qualifying short FREEDOM SWIMMER, the incredible tale of a grandfather’s perilous swim from mainland China to Hong Kong in search of freedom, was the much-deserved recipient of Innovation in Short Film or Animation and Outstanding Achievement in Sound/Sound Design.
“We couldn’t be happier with the response to and results of this year’s WA Screen Culture Awards,” says Revelation Film Festival Director Richard Sowada.
“With more than 200 entries across categories that capture games, art and traditional forms, our national and international judges had their work cut out for them – which is the whole point. More than that though was the enormous diversity of WA work presented to them, which is something we should all be proud of and congratulations to all entrants, nominees and winners.”
Announcing the full list of winners:
Innovation Awards
Narrative Feature Film with budget under $1m
Pieces
Narrative Feature Film with budget over $1m – presented by City of Fremantle
How to Please a Woman
Feature Documentary / Non Fiction – presented by Broadcast Gurus
Namarali
Short Film / Animation
Freedom Swimmer
Student Film – presented by the City of Vincent
Walk Run Strive
Music Video
The Hills – The Faim
Game Design – presented by StemSmart
Isle of Trials: Curse of the Fire God
Commercial Content – presented by PAV
Queens on the Edge
Moving Image and Installation Art – presented by the City of Vincent
Making Dalison
Virtual Reality, 360° or Augmented Reality – presented by XR:WA
Galup VR Experience
Web Series or Online Content – presented by RevStream
Making Dalison
Outstanding Achievement Awards:
Directing – presented by The Backlot Perth
Where All Light Tends To Go – Ben Young
Cinematography or Visualisation – presented by Raz Rentals
Facing Monsters – Rick Rifici
Writing
How to Please a Woman – Renee Webster
Performance
How to Please a Woman – Hayley McElhinney
Performance Under 18s – presented by The Ali Roberts Studio
(Not So) Great Expectations – Lauren Campbell
Production Design (incl. costume, set design, hair and makeup etc)
Pieces – Dennon Pike, Monique Wilson, Kristie Rowe, Tess Rowe, Shannon Murphy
Editing – presented by Sandbox
How to Please a Woman – Merlin Eden
Sound or Sound Design – presented by Soundbyte
Freedom Swimmer
Original Music – presented by RTRFM 92.1
Laugh With Me – Sean Tinnion
Two Special Industry Awards were also awarded as part of the 2022 WASCAs; the Contribution to the Industry was awarded to lawyer Joan Peters and the Independent Spirit Award went to Ingrid van den Berge, Managing Director of Luna Palace Cinemas.
Both women have spent a quarter of a century honing their skills and becoming unrivalled leaders in their fields.
Joan is a media and entertainment lawyer, an experienced executive producer for film and TV, who has worked across countless screen productions. A valued member of the local and national industry, she has sat on both Screenwest and Screen Australia boards and was twice nominated for WA Citizen of the Year.
Ingrid has been a passionate advocate for independent film and local filmmakers for the past 25 years, leading one of the most successful independent cinema chains in the country. Testament to this is the fact that Luna Leederville was recently voted Best Metro Independent Cinema in the Country at the 2022 Australian International Movie Convention.
This year’s WASCA trophy was designed by Ryan Hodgson, Geographik and Square Peg Home. Produced using responsibly sourced Western Australian Yarri timber by Square Peg Home and Artcom Fabrication, they symbolise a true synergy of local creatives working together for an event that celebrates Western Australian creative excellence and innovation.
The WASCAs are proudly presented and produced by the Revelation Perth International Film Festival with assistance from Sandbox Productions and in collaboration with the WA screen industry.
