12/09/2008

Queensland’s Unfinished Sky Scoops the Pool at AFI Awards

Queensland feature film Unfinished Sky took home an incredible six awards from ten nominations at the prestigious 50th Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards held in Melbourne over the weekend. The critically acclaimed film added the Macquarie AFI Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, AFI Award for Best Lead Actress, AFI Award for Best Lead Actor, AFI Award for Best Cinematography, AFI Award for Best Sound, and the AFI Award for Best Original Music Score to its already impressive list of accomplishments.

Producer Cathy Overett from New Holland Pictures says the film was a real labour of love for
everyone involved and that’s what shines through. “Everyone, from the cast and crew through to the financial and creative networks we’ve had, has just been unbelievably supportive and positive in helping us bring Unfinished Sky to life,” she said.

Queensland’s Pacific Film and Television Commission’s Head of Production, Henry Tefay says Unfinished Sky is a clear example of what can be achieved when good creative talent meets good commercial decision making. “That this film is not only critically acclaimed, but is also commercially successful I think demonstrates a real coming of age for the Queensland film industry,” he said.

Since its premiere at the Brisbane International Film Festival in 2007, Unfinished Sky has
screened at festivals all over the world, taken nearly $1 million at the Australian box office, and just last month received four Inside Film (IF) Awards.

“It’s fantastic that a Queensland film can gain access to, and resonate with audiences on such a broad national and international scale, and it just shows what we are capable of,” says Cathy. “I think Queensland is now a real contender, and is more than capable of competing with the traditional Australian film hubs of New South Wales and Victoria. “We’ve got some great talent, good infrastructure and real opportunities here; the support we received from Queensland’s Pacific Film and Television Commission and the local industry as a whole has been amazing, and I feel people are really starting to take notice of what Queenslanders have to offer."

The cast and crew of Unfinished Sky received the following AFI Awards:
Macquarie AFI Award for Best Adapted Screenplay – Peter Duncan
AFI Award for Best Lead Actress – Monic Hendrickx
AFI Award for Best Lead Actor – William McInnes
AFI Award for Best Cinematography – Robert Humphreys
AFI Award for Best Sound – Andrew Plain, Annie Breslin and Will Ward
AFI Award for Best Original Music Score – Antony Partos