Sydney Film Festival

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Director Luke Cornish received the the 2022 Documentary Australia Award for Keep Stepping.

Awards

THE OFFICIAL COMPETITION AND SYDNEY FILM PRIZE

The 2022 winner of the Sydney Film Prize is Close, directed by Lukas Dhont.

The Sydney Film Prize is awarded to the most “audacious, cutting-edge and courageous” film in the Official Competition line-up. The competition is endorsed by FIAPF, the regulating body for international film festivals, and is judged by a jury of filmmakers and industry professionals. The $60,000 cash prize was presented at SFF’s Closing Night ceremony.

DOCUMENTARY AUSTRALIA AWARD FOR AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY

The 2022 winner of the Documentary Australia Award for Australian Documentary is Keep Stepping, directed by Luke Cornish.

This award is supported by Documentary Australia with a $10,000 cash prize acknowledging excellence in Australian documentary production. Up to 10 films of any length are selected for the competition, and the jury awards the prize at SFF’s Closing Night ceremony. The winner is Academy Award eligible.

DENDY AWARDS FOR AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILMS

SFF’s prestigious Australian Short Film Awards were established in 1970 and have been sponsored by Dendy Cinemas since 1989. The awards are presented at SFF’s Closing Night ceremony.

The Dendy Live Action Short Award, sponsored by Dendy Cinemas, provides a $7,000 cash prize to the best Australian short film. Winners are Academy Award eligible. The 2022 winner of the Dendy Live Action Short Award is The Moths Will Eat Them Up, directed by Luisa Martiri and Tanya Modini.

The Rouben Mamoulian Award, sponsored by Dendy Cinemas and named after the director who first presented the award in 1974, provides a $7,000 cash prize to the best Australian short film director. The 2022 winner of the Rouben Mamoulian Award is The Moths Will Eat Them Up, directed by Luisa Martiri and Tanya Modini.

The Yoram Gross Animation Award, sponsored by Sandra and Guy Gross in memory of the late Yoram Gross, provides a $5,000 cash prize to the best Australian animated short film. Winners are Academy Award eligible. The 2022 winner of the Yoram Gross Animation Award is Donkey, directed by Jonathan Daw and Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM.

The AFTRS Craft Award, sponsored by the Australian Film Television and Radio School, provides a $7,000 cash prize for demonstrated excellence by a craft practitioner in an Australian short film. The 2022 winners of the AFTRS Craft Award are the Character Artists of Donkey:

Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM
Carolyn Kenta
Imuna Kenta
Elizabeth Dunn
Stacia Yvonne Lewis
Atipalku Intjalki
Lynette Lewis
Cynthia Burke

DEUTSCHE BANK FELLOWSHIP FOR FIRST NATIONS FILM CREATIVES

Established in 2021, the Deutsche Bank Fellowship provides a $20,000 grant to an Australian First Nations film creative to further develop their skills through international placement or other professional development.

The 2022 Deutsche Bank Fellow is actress and filmmaker Kylie Bracknell.

SYDNEY UNESCO CITY OF FILM AWARD

This annual award recognises a trailblazing NSW-based screen practitioner whose work stands for innovation, imagination and high impact. Screen NSW will award a $10,000 cash prize to the winner at SFF’s Closing Night ceremony.

The 2022 winner of the Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award is musician and film composer Caitlin Yeo.

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AWARD

The Sustainable Future Award is presented to a narrative or documentary film of any length that deepens our knowledge and awareness of the impact of the global climate emergency. The director of the film receives a $10,000 cash prize, made possible by a syndicate of passionate climate activists led by Award sponsor, Amanda Maple-Brown. The 2022 winner of the Sustainable Future Award is Delikado, directed by Karl Malakunas.

All the films shortlisted for the Sustainable Future Award are noted with a green leaf icon:

SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AWARDS

The Audience Awards are SFF’s people’s choice awards, and the winners of Best Feature and Best Documentary awards reflect the most popular films at the Festival as voted by you, the audience. The winner of the 2022 Audience Award for Best Feature is Evicted! A Modern Romance, directed by Rowan Devereux. The winner of the 2022 Audience Award for Best Documentary is Keep Stepping, directed by Luke Cornish.

DINOSAUR DESIGNS

All Sydney Film Festival Award winners are presented with the Festival’s signature mesmeric swirl award, designed and handmade in Sydney by SFF’s partners Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs.