Audience Award: Short Film at State Theatre - "Green Porno"

Isabella Rossellini's series of one-minute comical and insightful journeys into the sex life of insects. Co-Director and Producer Jody Shaprio was a guest of the festival.

Audience Award: Short Film at Satellite Venues - "Frederikke"

From Denmark's Zentropa Productions, the poignant story of a young girl's weekend visit to her mother, written and directed by Heidi Maria Faisst.

Audience Award: Documentary at State Theatre - "Young@Heart"

With an average age of 80, this choir tackle the likes of Sonic Youth's Schizophrenia, The Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go, and David Bowie's Golden Years. Young@Heart will be in cinemas from 16 Oct 2008.

Audience Award: Documentary at Satellite Venues - Anvil! "The Story of Anvil"

Sasha Gervasi's real-life Spinal Tap story of love, loss and triumph, as a hard-core Canadian heavy metal band strive to keep the dream alive. Producer Rebecca Yeldham was a guest of the festival, calling Steve 'Lips' Kudrow on her mobile phone after the screening so he could hear the audience cheer!

Audience Award: Feature at State Theatre -

"Fugitive Pieces"

Jeremy Podeswa's lyrical film of a boy's escape from Nazi-occupied Poland to Greece and then onto Canada, where his refusal to let go of the past impedes his engagement with the present. Jeremy Podeswa was a guest of the festival.

Audience Award: Feature at Satellite Venues -

"Red Like the Sky"

Cristiano Bortone's captivating story, based on one of Italy's leading sound editors, Mirco Mencacci, of a blind boy's passion to become a sound engineer. Red Like the Sky was part of the Accessible Cinema program, and children could also go along to this film.

Among the top-rating films was a strong selection of Australian films, including "Salute," "River of No Return," "Playing in the Shadows," "Son of a Lion" and "My Rabit Hoppy." Program strands that did particularly well were "Apocalypse Now," "Kids' Films" and "From Kerr to Eternity." Films about music were a big crowd pleaser, ranging from Philip Glass and Pete Seeger, to Canadian heavy metal and American jazz. Also a favourite was "Where is Winky's Horse?," sequel to last year's Audience Award winner, Winky's Horse.

Also announced at the Closing Night Gala was the Telstra MobileMovies Award for a one-minute mobile phone movie, with a 'My Town' theme. Jason van Genderen's "My Town is Broken," an ode to Gosford made entirely of streetsigns, won him a trip for two to Toronto International Film Festival. The People's Choice Award went to Briony Benjamin's "Mudgeeraba, a Place of Living History."

In her announcement at Sydney Opera House, Jury President Gillian Armstrong said, "Before we announce the winner of the Sydney Film Prize the jury would like to make special mention of two films. We commend Carlos Reygadas' Silent Light for its highly poetic and creative use of sound and image and the honest treatment of its universal story of love and pain. The second film we commend is Matthew Newton's "Three Blind Mice" for its energy, passion, superb ensemble cast and as such a fine collaboration by a talented group of young filmmakers.

"Choosing a winner has been a challenging decision because the competition presented such a strong and diverse selection of films. However, our final decision was unanimous. The inaugural Sydney Film Prize is awarded to Steve McQueen's "Hunger."

"'Hunger' was selected for its controlled clarity of vision, its extraordinary detail and bravery, the dedication of its cast and the power and resonance of its humanity," said Armstrong

The Official Competition Jury - Australian Director Gillian Armstrong, Australian actress Essie Davis, LA film writer and critic Scott Foundas, Iranian director/writer/producer Majid Majidi and Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi - agreed unanimously on the decision. The Jury worked as a collegial ensemble, assessing the merits of each film within the criteria of 'audacious, cutting-edge and courageous filmmaking'.

Sydney Film Festival also announced the winner of the Rouben Mamoulian Award as part of the 20th annual Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films - "Summer Breaks" directed by Sean Kruck and produced by Caroline Barry.

All six Dendy Awards were presented this evening at Sydney Opera House. The 15 shortlisted films were screened at State Theatre on Friday 13 June.

The 2008 winners are:

Dendy Award for Short Documentary ($5000 cash prize): "Rare Chicken Rescue"

Director Randall Wood; Producers Trish Lake, Vickie Gest

Dendy Award for Short Fiction ($5000 cash prize): "Ali and the Ball"

Director Alex Holmes; Producer Helen Panckhurst

Dendy Award for Most Innovative Short Film ($5000 cash prize): "Ephemeral" Directed and produced by Tony Radevski and Jongsu Oh

Yoram Gross Animation Award ($4000 cash prize): "Mutt"

Director Glen Hunwick; Producer Beth Frey

CRC Award ($5000 cash prize): "296 Smith Street"

Director John Evagora; Producer Jorge Tsadilas

Winner of the 2008 Rouben Mamoulian Award ($5000 cash prize): "Summer Breaks"

Director Sean Kruck; Producer Caroline Barry

Audience Choice Award for Best Feature: SHELTER (Jonah Markowitz - USA) - $5000 cash. Co-presented by MQFF and Volkswagen

Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary: I KNOW THAT I AM (Peyman Khosravi – Iran/Netherlands) - $2000 cash. Co-presented by MQFF and MQFF Life member David McCarthy.

Audience Choice Award for Best Australian Short Film: MY LAST TEN HOURS WITH YOU (Sophie Hyde) $1000 cash. Co-presented by MQFF and Karen Russell of Step Right Up.

Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film: PAGES OF A GIRL (Paginas de Menina) (Monica Pallazzo - Brazil) $500 cash.

Selector’s Choice Award for Best Film In Celluloid Casserole: LOVE IS BLUE (Emily Brindal - Australia) - $500 cash.

Directed by: The Blackheart Gang

Best Cinematography Award: "Tanghi Argentini"

Directed by: Frank Van den Eeden

Best Documentary Award: "Indestructible"

Directed by: Ben Byer & Rebeccah Rush

The Byron At Byron Best Environmental Film Award: "Saving Luna"

Directed by:Suzanne Chisholm & Michael Parfit

The Frontline Best Experimental Film Award: "Tyger" Directed by: Guilherme Marcondes

The Bay FM Best Byron Bay Filmmaker Award: Mick Waters for "Believe"

BBFF08 Honorable Mention: "To Touch the Soul"

Directed by: Ryan Goble

Produced by: Teresa Hagen

The Splendour in the Grass Best Short Film Award: "Tanghi Argentini" -

Directed by: Guido Thys & Anja Daelemans

Best Surf Film Award: "Sliding Liberia"

Directed by: Britton Cailouette & Nicholai Lidow

The SAE Institute Best Dramatic Feature Award: "Heartlines"

Directed by: Angus Gibson & Mariki Pretourius

The Avid Technology 2008 Best Young Filmmaker Award Lav Bodnaruk: "The Sound of Cry"(Prod) & "The Pain of the Macho" (Dir)

The Southern Cross University Best Film Award: "Laya Project"

Coopers Award for Best Film – "BLOOD SISTERS"(BLODSOSTRE) – Denmark

Produced by Lottie Terp Jakobsen & Jesper Morthorst

Directed by Louise N. D Friedberg

Prize: $5,000

Yoram Gross Award for Best Animation– "MADAME TUTLI PUTLI" - Canada

Produced by Marcy Page

Direction & Animation by Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski

Prize: $1,250

MINI Special Jury Prize – "SOFT" – UK

Produced by Jane Hooks

Directed by Simon Ellis

Prize: $500

SAE Prize for Best Use of Digital Technology In A Short Film– "TYGER" - Brazil

Directed by Guilherme Marcondes

Produced by Guilherme Marcondes & Trattoria

Prize: $1,000

National Geographic Award for Best Documentary – "DANCE LIKE YOUR OLD MAN" – Australia

Directed by Gideon Obarzanek & Edwina Throsby

Produced by Chunky Move

Prize: $1,000

Highly commended – "NIGGER LOVERS" - Australia

Directed by Rhonda Hagan

Produced by Daryl Sparkes

Special Mention – "THE WRONG TRAINERS" - UK

Produced & Directed by Kez Margrie

AUSTRALIAN AWARDS

JVC Short Film Award for Best Australian Film HDV– "NANA"

Produced by Kath Shelper

Directed by Warwick Thornton

Prize: camcorder GY HD111E

Seed Award for Best Achievement in an Original Australian Screenplay – "DUGONG"

Written by Erin White

Prize: $1,000

Icebergs Dining Room & Bar Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film– "CROSSBOW"

Directed by David Michod

Prize: $1,000

Special mention for Direction in an Australian short film – "MEDITATIONS ON A NAME"

Directed by Bonnie Elliott

Produced by Genevieve Derwent & Suzy Spoon

SBS Television Award – "YOLK"

Directed by Stephen Lance

Produced by Damon Escott

Written by Stephen Lance & Cory Taylor

Prize: Receipent to be awarded with the program purchase of their short film for broadcast

FujiFilm Award for Best Cinematography in an Australian Short Film – "PLAY"

Cinematographer – Nicola Daley

Prize: 35mm filmstock to the value of $2000 AUD

Avid Australia Award for Best Editing in an Australian Short Film: "SPIDER"

Editing by Luke Doolan & Nash Edgerton

Prize: Avid Media Composer Editing Software for MAC & PC rrp $7400 AUD

Film Support Award for most resourceful production – "WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW"

Produced by Caelin Smith

Directed by Samuel Bennetts

Prize: $500

AudioLoc Sound Design Award for Best Achievement in Sound – "CROSSBOW"

Sound designed by Sam Petty

Prize: One days sound mix at Crystal Palace

Short Documentary: "A Summer Not to Forget"

Director: Carol Mansour

Special Mention: "Wittenoom"

Director: Caro MacDonald

Medium Documentary: "Please Vote for Me"

Director: Weijun Chen

Special Mention: "My Daughter the Terrorist"

Director: Beate Arnestad

Feature Documentary: "Knee Deep"

Director: Michael Chandler

Special Mention: "Terra Incognita"

Director: Maria Finitzo

New Zealand Competition

Short Documentary: "In the Night Kitchen"

Director: Simon Burgin

Medium Documentary: "Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story"

Director: Julian Shaw

Feature Documentary: "The Nuclear Comeback"

Director: Justin Pemberton

Best Educational Documentary: "Please Vote for Me"

Director: Weijun Chen

Directed By: Shahin Parhami

Documentary 90' CANADA 2007

Best Short Film Award: "Transparent"

Directed By: Dylan Wiehahn

Experimental 2'54" Australia 2006

Special flEXiff Award: "Shir+zad"

Directed By: Reza Farahmand

Experimental - Documentary 32' IN 2006

Directed By: Dax Fontana and Tiffany Fontana

Exprimental 2'44" USA 2007

Tadgell’s Bluebell Award (Best film made by young adults 15-22 years old): "The Zero"

Directed By: Sagad Shahedi

Fiction 7' IRAN 2007

Tadgell’s Bluebell Honor Award (Best film made by adults for or about children): "Colours"

Directed By:Derrick Lui & Lee Chee Tian

Fiction 8’50” SINGAPORE 2007

Tadgell’s Bluebell Honor Award (Best film made by adults for or about youth): "Next Try Wins"

Directed By:The Holgate Brothers

Fiction 6'10" AUSTRALIA 2007

CHILDREN JURY MEMBERS:

Selesetina Maka (St. John's School Year 6)

Nigel Khafula (St. John's School Year 5)

Siutiti Toufaao (St. John's School Year 5)

Jessica Bazonni (St. John's School Year 6)

Rosa Khiami (St. John's School Year 5)

Kayla Steeden (St. John's School Year 6)

Chom (St. John's School Year 6)

Jade Chen (St. John's School Year 5)

Mikayla Morgan (Granville South Public School Year 6)

Saliman Samia (Granville South Public School Year 6)

Mert Mirici (Granville South Public School Year 6)

Scott Thompson (Granville South Public School Year 6)

Rima Dabliz (Granville South Public School Year 6)

Children Jury Comment: 'We enjoyed the films very much and our favorites were more than one but we had to choose the best film voted by all of us. Among the best were 'Fetch', 'Little Brother', 'Letting Go', 'Magic Cellars' and 'Mathew Heath' that we would like to mention.'

YOUTH JURY MEMBERS

Jullian Chung (18 years old)

Timothy Ly (20 years old)

Ryan Peters (19 years old)

Maria Tran (20 years old)

Director: Tony Ayres (Australia/2007)

Winner of the NETPAC Award: “THE BET COLLECTOR” Director: Jeffrey Jeturian (Phillipines/2006)

Winner of the Interfaith Award: “THE JAMMED”

Director: Dee McLachlan (Australia/2007)

The Cine Sparks Young People's Jury was also present to give their verdict.

Winner for the Cine Sparks Film Jury Award: “QUINCEAÑERA” Director: Wash Westmoreland (United States/2006)

“Blood Sisters”

Directed by: Louise N.D. Friedberg (Denmark)

Film Victoria Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short Film ($5,000)

“Crossbow”

Directed by: David Michod (Australia)

Melbourne Airport Award for Emerging Australian Filmmaker ($5,000)

“Nana”

Directed by: Warwick Thornton (Australia)

Nova Cinemas Award for Creative Excellence in Australian Film ($3,000)

“Dance Like Your Old Man”

Directed by: Gideon Obarzanek and Edwina Throsby (Australia)

Best Documentary Short Film ($3000)

“Dance Like Your Old Man”

Directed by: Gideon Obarzanek and Edwina Throsby (Australia)

Best Experimental Short Film ($3,000)

“Harrachov”

Directed by: Matt Hulse, Joost van Veen, and Ben Rivers (UK)

Best Animated Short Film ($3,000)

“Yours Truly”

Directed by: Osbert Parker (UK)

Highly Commended Animation Award

“The Bat and the Butterfly”

Directed by: Dave Jones (Australia)

Award for Best Student Production ($3,000)

“The Butcher’s Wife”

Directed by: Kylie Plunkett (Australia)

Award for Short Film Promoting Human Rights ($500)

“The T-Shirt”

Directed by: Hossein Martin Fazeli (Czech Republic)

Highly Commended Short Fiction Award

“Wrestling”

Directed by: Grimur Hakonarson (Iceland)

20-22 February 2008

Esplanade Hotel

Fremantle, Western Australia

For information log on to www.aidc.com.au from August 2007.

Directed by: Miranda Wills

Dendy Awards for Best Fiction: “Katoomba”

Directed by: Leon Ford

Dendy Awards the Most Innovative Short: “Paper City Architects” Directed by: Daniel Agdag

Yoram Gross Animation Award: “Sweet and Sour”

Directed by: Eddie White

CRC Award: “Checkpoint”

Directed by: Ben Phelps

Rouben Mamoulian Award sponsored by SHOWTIME: “Growing Up and Going Home”

Directed by: Belinda Mason

SBS In Language Award- Documentary: “2 Mums and a Dad”

Directed by: Miranda Wills

SBS In Language Award- Fiction: “Katoomba”

Directed by: Leon Ford

FIPRESCI Award for Best Documentary: “The Monastery - Mr Vig and the Nun”

Directed by: Pernille Rose

WotNext MobileMovies Award: “The Falling”

Directed by: Chris Simon

Sound Designed by - Andrew Plain and Megan Wedge

Avid Australia Award for Best Editing in an Australian Short Film:

“Booth Story”

Editing by Edwin McGill and Kassimir Burgess

Prize: Avid Software rrp $2850 AUD

Highly commended: “Small Boxes:

Editor: Adrian Rostirolla

Seed Productions Award for Best Australian Original Screenplay: “Small Boxes”

Written by: Rene Hernandez

Prize: $1,000 cash prize from Seed productions

Fujifilm Australia Award for Best Cinematography in an Australian Short: “Sexy Thing”

Cinematographer - Ben Allen

Prize: 35mm film stock to the value of $2000

Film Support Award for Most Resourceful Production: “Cleverman”

Produced by Dan Brumm

Directed by Joe Brumm

Prize: $500 AUD cash prize

The Flickerfest IF Media Award for Most Popular Film- “Soul Mates”

Produced by Rachel Clements and Paul Howard and Directed by Naomi Rossdeutscher

ICEBERGS DINING ROOM & BAR Award for Best Direction in an Australian Film: “Look Sharp”

Directed by Amy Gebhardt

Prize: $1000 AUD cash prize

Miller Tripods Australia Award for Best International Cinematography- “Medianeras”

Cinematographer - Leonardo Martinez

Prize: Miller DS-10 Solo System rrp $1590 AUD

MINI Special Jury Prize- “La Guerra”

Directed by Luiso Berdedjo and Jorge C Dorado

Produced by Koldo Zuazua

Prize: $500 cash prize

The National Geographic Channel Award for Best Documentary- “My Brother Vinnie”

Written by: Aaron Pederson

Produced by Sarah Bond

Directed by Stephen McGregor

Prize: $1000 AUD Cash

SBS Television Award- “William”

Directed by Eron Sheehan

Produced by Peter George

Written by John Brumpton

Prize: Short to be purchased for SBS broadcast, Presented by - Lien Aguilar, SOS programmer, SBS

JVC Short Film Award for Best Australian Short Film: “Small Boxes”

Producer: Kristina Ceyton

Director: Rene Hernandez

Prize: Pro HD Camcorder GYHD111E

Highly Commended: “Three Months at Sea”

Produced by Vanessa Burt

Directed by Kylie Eddy

Yoram Gross Award for Best Animation: “Rabbit”

Produced and Directed by Ron Wrake

Prize: $1,250 cash prize

Highly commended: “Printed Rainbow”

Director/Producer: Gitanjali Rao

“Who I am and what I Want”

Director/Writers: Chris Shepherd, David Shrigley

Producer: Maria Manton

The Coopers Award for Best Film: “The Last Dog in Rwanda”

Producer Anna Carlsten

Director Jen Assur

Prize: $5000 cash prize, Presented by Gillian Armstrong

Highly Commended: “Medianeras”

Directed by: Gustavo Taretto

Directed By Jamie Babbit

Audience Choice Award For Best Documentary ($1000 Cash): “Meth”

Directed By Todd Ahlberg

Audience Choice Award For Best Short Film ($500 Cash): “Sexy Thing”

Directed By Denie Pentecost

Turtle Cove Audience Choice Award For Best Australian Short Film: “Prada Handbag”

Directed By Stuart Vauvert

City Of Melbourne Award For Best Australian Short Film (Jury Voted $2000 Cash): “Sexy Thing”

Directed By Denie Pentecost

Selector’s Choice Award For Best Australian Film In Celluloid Casserole: “Queens’land”

Directed By Matthais Cerwen