The 2021 Sydney Film Prize goes to… There Is No Evil, by Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof!
The $60,000 cash prize for the ‘audacious, cutting-edge and courageous’ film was awarded by the jury, headed by David Michôd, and selected from 12 Official Competition films.
Accepting the award virtually from Tehran, Mohammad Rasoulof said, “I want to thank the jury. I am really happy there is something more than a simple appreciation in this prize. Being heard and understood is what keeps hope alive. Thank you Sydney Film Festival.”
Filmmaker Matthew Walker was awarded the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary’s $10,000 cash prize for I’m Wanita, a no-holds-barred introduction to Tamworth’s renegade ‘Queen of Honky Tonk’ which follows her journey to Nashville to record an album.
Both There Is No Evil and I’m Wanita are available to watch On Demand until November 21.
Limbo directed by Ben Sharrock was awarded a Special Mention by the Official Competition jury and Television Event directed by Jeff Daniels was highly recommended by the Documentary Australia Foundation Award jury.
The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films saw the $7,000 cash prize for the Dendy Live Action Short Award presented to Peeps directed by Sophie Somerville. The $7,000 Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director, going to Taylor Ferguson for tough.The $5,000 Yoram Gross Animation Award went to Olivia Martin-McGuire’s Freedom Swimmer. All available on SFF On Demand.
The $10,000 Sydney-UNESCO City of Film Award, bestowed by Create NSW to a trail-blazing NSW-based screen practitioner, went to AACTA Award-winning producer and director Karina Holden, who also produced Strong Female Lead.
Congratulations to all the winners and all the finalists! And thanks to the audiences for making this the most joyous Sydney Film Festival ever – it was wonderful to be reunited after such a long time away from the cinema.
The Festival looks forward to seeing you for another huge Festival from 8–19 June 2022! In the meantime don’t miss the On Demand Festival program – online until November 21!