AIFF19 winners announced

The 2019 Australia Independent Film Festival, set in the heart of the Brisbane CBD, spanned three sensational days across six incredible screening sessions.

With films submitted from over fifty countries it was a true smorgasbord of viewing delights second to none.

Brisbane film lovers were treated to world class Australian and international short films, documentaries, animations, and experimental films from across the globe. Filmmakers from overseas, across Australia, and industry leaders also attended to help celebrate independent cinema at its very finest. A sold-out opening night set the tone for the entire festival which cumulated in the closing night awards ceremony where the very best were rewarded.

“At AIFF19 we were privileged to include films that had premiered at highly acclaimed festivals including Cannes and Berlinale. Our International short film winner Mosul 980 is a 2020 Academy Award nominee. I think it really shows that AIFF is quickly becoming a festival that the people of Brisbane and Australia can be very proud to call their own,” said festival Co-Director Jeremy Rigby.

“We were blown away by the quality of submissions to AIFF19, both from Australia and around the world, and it was an absolute pleasure to not only screen these films to an audience of avid film lovers, but also discuss the films from each session. I can’t wait to see what AIFF19’s finalists continue to create in the future, as there is no doubt that we will see big things!,” said festival Co-Director Richard Lawton.

BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILM
Cooee – Directed by Toby Morris

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
Mosul 980 – Directed by Ali Mohammed Saeed

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Stuck on a Rock – Directed by Asher Flatt

BEST FEATURE FILM
Locked Alone – Directed by Yung-Jen Yang

BEST EXPEREMENTAL FILM
PUB_TALK – Directed by Jake Taylor

BEST ANIMATION
MIX – Directed by Kotoko Nakamura

BEST SCREENPLAY
Bully – Written by Joshua Cohen

BEST STUDENT FILM
Soldier of Comedy – Directed by Duke Howard

BEST FIRST TIME FILM MAKER
Daily Bread – Directed by Ruby Challenger

JURY AWARD
My Name is Mohamed and Raghad, We Don’t Exist Here Anymore Directed by Ali Mousawi
Night Fill – Directed by Joel Stephen Fleming
Carving the Divine – Directed by Yujiro Seki

PEOPLE’S CHOICE
NORM – Directed by Amanda Kaye

For more information visit www.ausindefest.com and to stay up to date please follow: www.facebook.com/ausindefest Submissions for AIFF20 open early 2020.