Mercury CX member and LAB participant Jason Chong wins AACTA Reg Grundy
Award
Long-time Mercury CX supporter, member and workshop participant Jason Chong has won
the 2021 AACTA Reg Grundy Award. The award provides a prize to Australia’s next big
competition format show.
“I’ve been a regular attendee of MCX’s Screenmakers Conferences, attended the Screen
Makers Lab in 2019 and 2021, was a finalist for the Out of the Box initiative in
2019 and attended this year’s Pitch Lab with Ruth Estelle, where I began refining
the pitch for The Second Best Gameshow” said Jason.
In 2019 the SAFC subsidised Jason to attend Screen Forever for the first time, and in
2021 he completed the SAFC Skilling SA training for the AD Department.
The AACTA Reg Grundy Award, offered in 2021 for the second time, saw applications
across a number of formats competing for a $50000 prize including development
funding.
This year’s winner was determined by a panel of established screen experts including
Eden Gaha (President of unscripted television at Shine USA), Cathy Payne (CEO of
Banijay Rights), Sharon Wheeler (Award-winning Senior Entertainment Executive), and
Marion Farrelly (Speaker, consultant, TV & Film Producer), and Ian Hogg (Media
CEO, Advisor, Australian Idol, Australia’s Got Talent, Family Feud).
“A great idea can come from anywhere. It’s our job, as an industry, to make sure such
great ideas are heard and their creators are supported. The Reg Grundy Award
represents the kind of encouragement and mentorship that has made Australian content
what it is today. Now more than ever, this award underpins the importance of new
perspectives on entertainment from people of all backgrounds. I see this year’s
additional prize for innovative, young, creators as a tremendous way to seed the
next great competition format.” said AACTA Reg Grundy Award Judge and President of
Unscripted Television at Shine USA, Eden Gaha.
Speaking of the win, Jason said “There’s still loads of work to do, but this is a
great chance to say thank you for all the support and opportunities that have been
provided by Mercury CX. It has already made a huge difference in my career so far
and I really do appreciate it.”
The winners of the South Australian Screen Awards 2021 have been named at a gala
awards ceremony at Mercury CX. There were 81 nominees, across 24 awards which
were presented to creatives and crew across a range of craft and genre
categories including drama, documentary, web series, animation, comedy, music
video, screenwriting, directing, editing etc, culminating in the Grand Jury
Prize presented by the South Australian Film Corporation.
MYTH - The Go Between and The Recordist have taken out joint
honours for Best Drama. MYTH – The Go Between produced by William
Littleton, picked up three additional awards including Best Director for Alies
Sluiter. The Recordist, produced by Ashleigh Knott and Indianna Bell and
directed by Indianna Bell and Josiah Allenalso picked up Best Performance
for Brendan Rock along with Best Sound Design for Indianna Bell.
Myth: The Go Between, Grand Jury Winner
Best Comedy, presented by KOJO was awarded to Producer Lisa Bishop and
Writer/Director Gareth Wilkes for Happy Anniversary. Best Documentary,
supported by AIDC, was won by My Ba from Producer/Director Alice Yang and
Best Animation was The Better Angels for Producer Richard Chataway and
Writer/Director Michael Cusack.
In addition five individual awards were presented to acknowledge South Australian
screen excellence culminating in the illustrious City of Adelaide Mercury Award,
which recognises a South Australian creative’s lifetime achievement and contribution
to the screen industry. This award was presented by the Right Honourable Lord Mayor
of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor to acclaimed Sound Recordist, Mixer and Sound Designer
James Currie. Currie’s 45-year career has seen him work on 146 productions spanning
feature films, television series, documentaries and short films. His international
reputation has been built working innovatively on sound for directors including Paul
Cox, Rolf de Heer and Scott Hicks. Currie said of the award: “I am truly humbled to
be the recipient of this year’s City of Adelaide Mercury Award 2021,” adding that
hometown recognition was especially meaningful.
City of Adelaide Mercury Prize Winner, James Currie
Director Scott Hicks said of James’ win “James recorded sound on my very first film
’The Wanderer’, and almost 50 years later he’s working on my current film ‘The
Musical Mind’. I’ve lost count of the films we’ve done in between. Many
congratulations James - such a well-deserved honour and recognition of your place in
the pantheon of South Australian filmmakers. You’re an institution, and I salute
you.“
The inaugural Best First Nations Talent Award sponsored by South Australian Film
Corporation was presented to actor Natasha Wanganeen for her compelling performance
in the short film Djaambi. Another first for 2021 was the inclusion of the
Mercury Rising award, supported by the Adelaide Festival Centre and presented to an
MCX Member across any award category. The inaugural winner is producer and director
Eva Grzelak. The Carclew Foundation presented the Young Filmmaker Award to
cinematographer Nicholas Frayne and Media Super presented the Emerging Producer
Award to Lilla Berry.
Mercury CX CEO, Karena Slaninka said “I am constantly impressed with the level of
talent we have in South Australia and Mercury CX is proud to play an essential role
in supporting and celebrating emerging and established talent”.
“The South Australian Screen Awards have helped launch the careers of many filmmakers
who have gone from making an award winning short to their first feature and are an
important career milestone. We couldn’t offer these awards without the support of
our many partners and award sponsors”.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
CITY OF ADELAIDE MERCURY AWARD
James Currie
GRAND JURY PRIZE
Sponsored by South Australian Film Corporation
MYTH - THE GO-BETWEEN
Produced by William Littleton; Directed & Written by Alies Sluiter
EMERGING PRODUCER AWARD
Sponsored by Media Super
Lilla Berry
FIRST NATIONS TALENT
AWARD
Sponsored by South Australian Film
Corporation
Natasha Wanganeen - Actor, Djaambi
YOUNG FILMMAKER AWARD
Sponsored by Carclew Foundation
Nicholas Frayne
MERCURY RISING AWARD
Sponsored by Adelaide Festival Centre
Eva Grzelak
> GENRE CATEGORIES
BEST DRAMA
Sponsored by Adelaide Film Festival
Joint Winners
The Recordist
Producers: Ashleigh Knott & Indianna Bell
Directors: Indianna Bell & Josiah Allen
Writer: Indianna Bell
MYTH - The Go-Between
Producer: William Littleton
Writer/Director: Alies Sluiter
BEST COMEDY
Sponsored by KOJO
Happy Anniversary
Producer: Lisa Bishop
Writer/Director: Gareth Wilkes
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Sponsored by Australian International Documentary
Conference
My Ba
Producer/Director: Alice Yang
Honourable Mention:
Last Meal
Producers: Danielle Tinker, Marcus McKenzie & Daniel Principe
Directors: Marcus McKenzie & Daniel Principe
AND
Deadly Family Portraits: Sansbury Sisters
Producer: Lilla Berry
Director: Pearl Berry
BEST ANIMATION
Sponsored by Finders University
The Better Angels
Producer: Richard Chataway
Writer/Director: Michael Cusack
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Sponsored by Music SA
alt. “Devil’s Cut “
Producers: Ashley Pollard & Benjamin Powell
Director: Ashley Pollard
BEST WEB SERIES
Sponsored by Government of South Australia Department for Innovation and
Skills
Dead Centre
Producer: Kurt Roberts
Writer/Director: Benno Thiel
BEST STUDENT PRODUCTION
Sponsored by University of South Australia
Punchin’ Out!
Producer: Kirrily Snape
Writer/Director: Tasman Colquist
BEST GAME
Sponsored by CDW Animation
Henosis Brewed Engagement Extended Reality
Labs
> CRAFT CATEGORIES
BEST SCREENPLAY
Sponsored by Australian Writers’ Guild
Kate Bonney - Waiyirri
BEST DIRECTING
Sponsored by SunJive Studios
Alies Sluiter - MYTH - The Go
Between
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Sponsored by Pro AV Solutions
Nicholas Frayne - Which Made This Place
Home
BEST EDITING
Sponsored by Channel 44
Tania Nehme - MYTH - The Go
Between
BEST PERFORMANCE
Sponsored by Heesom Casting
Kavitha Anandasivam -
Possum
AND
Brendan Rock - The
Recordist
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Sponsored by Light Adelaide
Brendan Homan & Natalie Homan - Last
Meal
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Sponsored by Kryolan Professional
Make-up
Bec Troisi - MYTH - The Go
Between
BEST COSTUME
Sponsored by The Fabric Store
Hannah Sitters - Secret Pretty
Things
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Sponsored by Best FX
Indianna Bell – The
Recordist
BEST SCORE
Sponsored by University of Adelaide Elder Music Conservatorium
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