RAIN didn’t deter more than 3500 movie buffs from attending the Cobs Peninsula Film Festival at Rosebud, Saturday 10 February.
The festival has been held at the Rosebud Village Green since 2011 and receives $40,000 from the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Arts and Culture team.
Festival director Steve Bastoni said he was thrilled with its success. “Once again the support of the shire, and the local community engagement, [has been] a critical factor in delivering a successful event,” he said. “We are pleased to see the event gaining national exposure and attracting punters from interstate.”
This year’s winners were Shot Clock by Matthew Jenkins; Hoarder Control by Nicholas Colla and Nicolette Minster (second) and The Hamster King by Karen McPherson (third).
The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said the shire had sponsored the festival for the past eight years and “we’re pleased to have supported this well-loved community event again this year” as part of the council’s 2017-18 budget.
Celebrity judges included Isabel Lucas, Lachy Hulme, Michala Banas, Jane Kennedy, Leah Purcell and Nick Batzias. Up to $30,000 can be awarded in cash and prizes.
Other categories included Best Animation, Best Documentary, Best International and the Woodleigh School Emerging Filmmaker Award.
The Best director award went to Matthew Jenkins (Shot Clock), Best cinematography to Karen McPherson (The Hamster King), Best actor to Richard Davies (Shot Clock), and Best screenplay to Ren Thackam (The Skydiver and The Scarecrow).
The Woodleigh Emerging Filmmaker award went to Nicolas Mollica and Steven Thein Kha Sie (The Traveller); Emerging Animator to Radheya Jegatheva (Irony); Best international short film to David Bornstein (Perfect Breakfast), and Best documentary to Eve Byers (Beeing Kept).
Councillors Antonella Celi and Simon Brooks welcomed the audience and presented prizes.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 6 March 2018
