Best Australian Short Film: The nation’s richest short film competition crowns its top filmmakers

A camera and a dream — that’s how most finalists in the nation’s richest short film competition began their storytelling journeys.

The Shorty’s — Australia’s short film version of The Oscars — crowned its top filmmakers on Thursday night at an exclusive Rooftop Movies event in Northbridge.

Run by PerthNow in collaboration with major sponsor SAE University College, the inaugural awards recognised industry talent young and old, near and far, offering a platform to budding storytellers whose stories may have otherwise gone untold.

Friends and family of finalists, sponsors, and movie buffs alike attended the cinematic ceremony, whose lofty setting amid the city’s skyline perhaps suggested the sky is the limit for the shortlisted filmmakers.

Channel Seven Perth presenter Jerrie Demasi added a touch of glamour to proceedings in a flowing red dress as she hosted the event, lauding the quality on display.

With an impressive prize pool of $75,000, finalists across the country who were unable to attend tuned in via live stream as the winners were revealed.

Entrusted to judge the top 30 entries were some of the nation’s most revered industry figures, including actors Mark Coles Smith and Kirsty Marillier, director Nel Minchin, Perth Festival’s Tom Vincent and The West’s film critic Ben O’Shea.

“It was an absolute joy reviewing this year’s short film entries, and being reminded of all the wonderful talent that exists within our creative communities,” Smith said.

Overall winner of Australia’s Best Short Film, 25-year-old rising star Radheya Jegatheva, claimed the grand prize of $30,000 for his animated short Bird Drone which depicted a seagull’s unrequited love for a flying piece of metal.

“I spent nearly three years directing and animating this film on my laptop. It was a labour of love. And that was, you know, almost, an eighth of my life,” he said of the impressive feat.

While judges hand-picked each category’s shining light, fans found a hidden treasure in People’s Choice winner Verge Collection — created by Perth-based team Nicholas Verryn, Taylor Finch, Nadine Barry and Kyle Thistlethwaite.

“We did this as a uni project at the end of last year, so we’re very honoured to be here,” Finch said, whose film also claimed WA’s Best Short Film prize.

Juno Shean proved the next generation is in good hands with his cultural allegory The Ways We Cook.

“The most valuable thing I learned while making this film is it’s ok to show your vulnerable side. When you have such wonderful people around you, it’s easy to do that,” he said.

WA First Nations winner Marlanie Haerewa revealed the legacy of a local legend in The Tale of Mr Kimberley, paying homage to her heritage in the process.

“The main man who I’d love to thank is Mr Kimberley himself.

“He is a highly respected elder from our community of Derby, and I’m super honoured that I could help tell his story in some way,” Haerewa said.

With an abundance of talent on display, fans of cinema will no doubt be seeing more from The Shorty’s list of worthy winners and finalists.

The Best Australian Short Film Competition Prize Winners

Best Animation ($5000) Tie ($2500 each)

Australian Mongrel

Recipients: Rocco Fazzari and Belinda Lopez, NSW

Self-Portrait

Recipient: Mahdi Poursamad, NSW

Next Gen Youth Prize ($5000)

The Ways We Cook

Recipient: Juno Shean, WA

Future of Film Innovation Prize ($5000)

Substratum

Recipient: Harvey Abrahams, NSW

WA First Nations Filmmaker Prize ($7500)

The Tale of Mr. Kimberley

Recipient: Marlanie Haerewa, WA

The Best West Australian Short Film Prize ($10,000)

Verge Collection

Recipients: Taylor Finch, Nicholas Verryn, Nadine Barry and Kyle Thistlethwaite, WA

The Best Australian Short Film Competition Main Prize ($30,000)

Bird Drone

Recipient: Radheya Jegatheva, WA

The People’s Choice Prize ($5000)

Verge Collection

Recipients: Taylor Finch, Nicholas Verryn, Nadine Barry and Kyle Thistlethwaite, WA