Sydney Film Festival Awards 2023: The Best Films and Winners
The Sydney Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in Australia, showcasing the best of local and international cinema. The 2023 edition of the festival was a huge success, with over 400 film screenings, special events, and talks. The festival ran from June 7-18, and the winners were announced on June 18 at the State Theatre. Here are the highlights of the festival and the winners of the awards.
The Mother of all Lies Wins Best Picture
The Mother of all Lies, a docu-drama film directed by Asmae El Moudir, won the Best Picture award at the Sydney Film Festival. The film uses doll-like figurines to reconstruct the history of Morocco’s 1981 Bread Riots, juxtaposing evidence from barely existent public materials with private family memory. The jury, headed by Anurag Kashyap, called the film “audacious, cutting-edge and courageous.” The film also won the best director prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.
Marungka Tjalatjunu Wins Documentary Australia Award
Australian filmmakers Derik Lynch and Matthew Thorne won the Documentary Australia Award’s $20,000 cash prize for Marungka Tjalatjunu (aka Dipped in Black). The film follows Lynch, a Yankunytjatjara artist, on a road trip back to his country roots (Aputula), as memories from his childhood return. The film explores themes of identity, culture, and belonging.
Against the Tide Wins Sustainable Future Award
Indian director Sarvnik Kaur won the Sustainable Future Award, the largest environmental film prize in the world, for her film Against the Tide. The documentary follows two fishermen from Mumbai’s indigenous Koli community as they confront the impact of the changing environment. The film explores how climate change is affecting the lives and livelihoods of people who depend on the sea for their survival.
Short Film Awards
The festival also awarded five awards for short films. The AFTRS Craft Award for best practitioner (a $7,000 cash prize) went to Kalu Oji, Faro Musodza, and Makwaya Masudi, screenwriters for What’s In a Name? The inaugural Event Cinemas Rising Talent Award, with a cash prize of $7,000, was awarded to Robyn Liu, lead actor in The Dancing Girl and the Balloon Man. The Yoram Gross Animation Award, with a cash prize of $5,000, was awarded to Teacups, directed by Alec Green and Finbar Watson. The Dendy Live Action Short Award, with a cash prize of $7,000, was awarded to The Dancing Girl and the Balloon Man, directed by David Ma. The Rouben Mamoulian Award for best director, with a cash prize of $7,000, was presented to Sophie Somerville, director of Linda 4 Eva.
Travelling Film Festival
The festival will now take to the road, with selections shown at seven locations in New South Wales, including Newcastle, Orange, Port Macquarie, and Sawtell, as part of the Travelling Film Festival through to October 2023. The festival brings the best of the Sydney Film Festival to regional audiences across New South Wales.
Conclusion
The 2023 edition of the Sydney Film Festival was a huge success, showcasing the best of local and international cinema. The festival awarded prizes to films that explore themes of identity, culture, belonging, and the impact of climate change on people’s lives and livelihoods. The festival also recognized the talents of emerging filmmakers and actors. The Travelling Film Festival will bring the festival’s selections to regional audiences across New South Wales, ensuring that the best of cinema is accessible to all.