The winners of the South Australian Screen Awards 2021 have been named at a gala awards ceremony at Mercury CX. There were 81 nominees, across 24 awards which were presented to creatives and crew across a range of craft and genre categories including drama, documentary, web series, animation, comedy, music video, screenwriting, directing, editing etc, culminating in the Grand Jury Prize presented by the South Australian Film Corporation.
MYTH – The Go Between and The Recordist have taken out joint honours for Best Drama. MYTH – The Go Between produced by William Littleton, picked up three additional awards including Best Director for Alies Sluiter. The Recordist, produced by Ashleigh Knott and Indianna Bell and directed by Indianna Bell and Josiah Allen also picked up Best Performance for Brendan Rock along with Best Sound Design for Indianna Bell.
Best Comedy, presented by KOJO was awarded to Producer Lisa Bishop and Writer/Director Gareth Wilkes for Happy Anniversary. Best Documentary, supported by AIDC, was won by My Ba from Producer/Director Alice Yang and Best Animation was The Better Angels for Producer Richard Chataway and Writer/Director Michael Cusack.
In addition five individual awards were presented to acknowledge South Australian screen excellence culminating in the illustrious City of Adelaide Mercury Award, which recognises a South Australian creative’s lifetime achievement and contribution to the screen industry. This award was presented by the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor to acclaimed Sound Recordist, Mixer and Sound Designer James Currie. Currie’s 45-year career has seen him work on 146 productions spanning feature films, television series, documentaries and short films. His international reputation has been built working innovatively on sound for directors including Paul Cox, Rolf de Heer and Scott Hicks. Currie said of the award: “I am truly humbled to be the recipient of this year’s City of Adelaide Mercury Award 2021,” adding that hometown recognition was especially meaningful.
Director Scott Hicks said of James’ win “James recorded sound on my very first film ’The Wanderer’, and almost 50 years later he’s working on my current film ‘The Musical Mind’. I’ve lost count of the films we’ve done in between. Many congratulations James – such a well-deserved honour and recognition of your place in the pantheon of South Australian filmmakers. You’re an institution, and I salute you.“
The inaugural Best First Nations Talent Award sponsored by South Australian Film Corporation was presented to actor Natasha Wanganeen for her compelling performance in the short film Djaambi. Another first for 2021 was the inclusion of the Mercury Rising award, supported by the Adelaide Festival Centre and presented to an MCX Member across any award category. The inaugural winner is producer and director Eva Grzelak. The Carclew Foundation presented the Young Filmmaker Award to cinematographer Nicholas Frayne and Media Super presented the Emerging Producer Award to Lilla Berry.
Mercury CX CEO, Karena Slaninka said “I am constantly impressed with the level of talent we have in South Australia and Mercury CX is proud to play an essential role in supporting and celebrating emerging and established talent”.
“The South Australian Screen Awards have helped launch the careers of many filmmakers who have gone from making an award winning short to their first feature and are an important career milestone. We couldn’t offer these awards without the support of our many partners and award sponsors”.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
CITY OF ADELAIDE MERCURY AWARD
James Currie
GRAND JURY PRIZE
Sponsored by South Australian Film Corporation
MYTH – THE GO-BETWEEN
Produced by William Littleton; Directed & Written by Alies Sluiter
EMERGING PRODUCER AWARD
Sponsored by Media Super
Lilla Berry
FIRST NATIONS TALENT AWARD
Sponsored by South Australian Film Corporation
Natasha Wanganeen – Actor, Djaambi
YOUNG FILMMAKER AWARD
Sponsored by Carclew Foundation
Nicholas Frayne
MERCURY RISING AWARD
Sponsored by Adelaide Festival Centre
Eva Grzelak
> GENRE CATEGORIES
BEST DRAMA
Sponsored by Adelaide Film Festival
Joint Winners
The Recordist
Producers: Ashleigh Knott & Indianna Bell
Directors: Indianna Bell & Josiah Allen
Writer: Indianna Bell
MYTH – The Go-Between
Producer: William Littleton
Writer/Director: Alies Sluiter
BEST COMEDY
Sponsored by KOJO
Happy Anniversary
Producer: Lisa Bishop
Writer/Director: Gareth Wilkes
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Sponsored by Australian International Documentary Conference
My Ba
Producer/Director: Alice Yang
Honourable Mention:
Last Meal
Producers: Danielle Tinker, Marcus McKenzie & Daniel Principe
Directors: Marcus McKenzie & Daniel Principe
AND
Deadly Family Portraits: Sansbury Sisters
Producer: Lilla Berry
Director: Pearl Berry
BEST ANIMATION
Sponsored by Finders University
The Better Angels
Producer: Richard Chataway
Writer/Director: Michael Cusack
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Sponsored by Music SA
alt. “Devil’s Cut “
Producers: Ashley Pollard & Benjamin Powell
Director: Ashley Pollard
BEST WEB SERIES
Sponsored by Government of South Australia Department for Innovation and Skills
Dead Centre
Producer: Kurt Roberts
Writer/Director: Benno Thiel
BEST STUDENT PRODUCTION
Sponsored by University of South Australia
Punchin’ Out!
Producer: Kirrily Snape
Writer/Director: Tasman Colquist
BEST GAME
Sponsored by CDW Animation
Henosis
Brewed Engagement Extended Reality Labs
> CRAFT CATEGORIES
BEST SCREENPLAY
Sponsored by Australian Writers’ Guild
Kate Bonney – Waiyirri
BEST DIRECTING
Sponsored by SunJive Studios
Alies Sluiter – MYTH – The Go Between
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Sponsored by Pro AV Solutions
Nicholas Frayne – Which Made This Place Home
BEST EDITING
Sponsored by Channel 44
Tania Nehme – MYTH – The Go Between
BEST PERFORMANCE
Sponsored by Heesom Casting
Kavitha Anandasivam – Possum
AND
Brendan Rock – The Recordist
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Sponsored by Light Adelaide
Brendan Homan & Natalie Homan – Last Meal
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Sponsored by Kryolan Professional Make-up
Bec Troisi – MYTH – The Go Between
BEST COSTUME
Sponsored by The Fabric Store
Hannah Sitters – Secret Pretty Things
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Sponsored by Best FX
Indianna Bell – The Recordist
BEST SCORE
Sponsored by University of Adelaide Elder Music Conservatorium
Christopher Larkin – Last Meal