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Monday 20 February 2012 (updated Tuesday 21 February 2012)

Australian short film Julian, written and directed by Matthew Moore, has been awarded the prestigious Crystal Bear Award for Best Short Film in Generation Kplus at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival. This is the third year in a row an Australian film has been awarded the Crystal Bear in the Best Short Film category at the Berlinale.

Julian explores a day in the life of a nine-year-old boy and is produced by Matthew Moore and Robert Jago with executive producers Ian Darling, Mark Kilmurry, Phillip Verity, Joel Moss, Tara O’Sullivan, Lisa Mann and Katrina Moore.

On awarding the film the Berlin jury said Julian was, “A sophisticated film which accompanies a misunderstood boy on his way to popularity with wit and lightness of touch. The fantastic actor displays his phenomenal talent in portraying the smart protagonist – and surprises us in the process. Really great cinema!”

Julian screened in Berlin’s Generation Kplus section – a special section for children and youths.

Writer/director Billie Pleffer’s film BINO also won a Special Mention from the Generation Kplus Children’s Jury and a prize for the Best Short Film from the German Children’s Fund given by the Generation Kplus International Jury. Produced by Rita Walsh with associate producer Stacey Kwijas, BINO is a story about a thrill-seeking albino boy who is forced to realise an essential truth through a bizarre encounter.

On winning the Best Short Film prize the Generation Kplus International Jury said, “Our winning film is an extremely cinematic portrait of otherworldly boys. We loved the film’s rebelliousness, its beautiful compositions, its lack of dialogue, its world of isolated youth – tense, imaginative and full of risk.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Marketing, Kathleen Drumm, said, “Recognition of this kind at an event like Berlin is a tremendous vote of confidence in Australia’s emerging filmmaking talent.”

Screen Australia supported the filmmakers of both Julian and BINO to attend the Berlin International Film Festival and to market their films at the festival.

Visit our website for details of all the Australian films that screened at the 2012 Berlinale and European Film Market: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/marketing/Aus_At/Berlin2012

SHORT FILMS GENERATION KPLUS

BINO
(10 mins)
Writer/Director Billie Pleffer
Producer Rita Walsh 
Associate Producer Stacey Kwijas
Production Company Victorian College of the Arts
Cast Edvard Hakansson, Nathan Chisholm, Andrew Gischus
Sales billiepleffer@gmail.com
Synopsis Through a bizarre encounter, a thrill-seeking albino boy is forced to realise an essential truth.

JULIAN
(13 mins)
Writer/Director/Producer Matthew Moore
Producer Robert Jago
Exec Producers Ian Darling, Mark Kilmurry, Phillip Verity, Joel Moss, Tara O’Sullivan, Lisa Mann, Katrina Moore
Cast Ed Oxenbould, Leon Ford, Morgana Davies, Christopher Stollery
Sales mattjmoore@yahoo.com.au
Synopsis Set in a year four classroom in 1981, Julian explores a day in the life of a nine-year-old boy. Julian’s need to speak his truth and his strong urge to do what he thinks is right begins to unravel his world. Throughout the day Julian is forced to deal with a bully, an impatient teacher turning a blind eye and a principal with a secret. As Julian faces these challenges we begin to see the qualities that will inform the man he is to become.

Media Enquiries
Teri Calder T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995
teri.calder@screenaustralia.gov.au