How to Please a Woman

Cheeky comedy-drama How to Please a Woman scooped a pleasing four awards (out of six nominations) at the 2022 WA Screen Culture Awards held on Sunday 4 December at Luna Cinemas Leederville – including Innovation in Narrative Feature Film with a budget over $1m; Outstanding Achievement in Editing – Merlin Eden; Outstanding Achievement in Performance – Hayley McElhinney; and Outstanding Achievement in Writing – Renee Webster. 

Webster’s debut feature was filmed in Fremantle and Perth in 2021. Released in May this year on over 250 screens nationwide, the film struck a chord with audiences and critics alike drawn to the charming comedy classic.  

Indie filmmaking triumph Pieces, which explores the devastating impact of mental illness took home the Innovation in Narrative Feature Film with a budget under $1m. A personal project for director Martin Wilson, Pieces was shot on a budget of just $150,000. 

The understated documentary Namarali, which tells the story behind the spirit figure that rose up into the stadium at the Sydney Olympic Opening Ceremony, was awarded Innovation in Feature Documentary. 

And Oscar-qualifying short Freedom Swimmer, the incredible tale of a grandfather’s perilous swim from mainland China to Hong Kong in search of freedom, was the much-deserved recipient of Innovation in Short Film or Animation and Outstanding Achievement in Sound/Sound Design.

“We couldn’t be happier with the response to and results of this year’s WA Screen Culture Awards,” says Revelation Film Festival Director Richard Sowada. 

“With more than 200 entries across categories that capture games, art and traditional forms, our national and international judges had their work cut out for them – which is the whole point. More than that though was the enormous diversity of WA work presented to them, which is something we should all be proud of and congratulations to all entrants, nominees and winners.”

Pieces

Innovation Awards

Narrative Feature Film with budget under $1m
Bassendream
Cherubhead
Painkiller
Pieces
Thorns & Thistles at the End of the World

Narrative Feature Film with budget over $1m 
Avarice
How to Please a Woman
Where All Light Tends To Go 

Feature Documentary / Non Fiction
Facing Monsters
Namarali
Shipwreck Hunters Australia
Stage Changers

Short Film / Animation – presented by Raz Rentals
Freedom Swimmer
Match Made
Hash Browns
Redzone
Survivors of Wadjemup

Student Film – presented by the City of Vincent
Expiration Date
Letters
(Not So) Great Expectations
The Golden Rollers
Through Her Eyes
Walk Run Strive

Music Video
ANI – Anywhere Else
Drapht & WASO – Jimmy Recard
Drapht & WASO – Where Ya From
Inneka – Prof Strohl
The Hills – The Faim

Game Design – presented by StemSmart
Lost and Hound
Isle of Trials: Curse of the Fire Gods

Commercial Content – presented by PAV
Queens on the Edge
The View From Here

Moving Image and Installation Art – presented by the City of Vincent
BUFF{ED}
Equal Opportunity to be a Dictator
Making Dalison
Women Inc

Virtual Reality, 360° or Augmented Reality – presented by XR:WA
A Quiet Day in the Hall
Beyond the Milky Way
Galup VR Experience
Isle of Trials: Curse of the Fire Gods
MPA Skills/ “Try a Trade” Program

Web Series or Online Content – presented by RevStream
Capturing the Fire
Making Dalison
The View From Here
Walking Man 

Namarali

Outstanding Achievement Awards

Directing – presented by The Backlot Perth
How to Please a Woman – Renee Webster
Making Dalison – Dominic Pearce
Pieces – Martin Wilson
Stage Changers – Ella Wright
Touch – Jennie Feyen
Walking Man – Luna Laure
Where All Light Tends To Go – Ben Young

Cinematography or Visualisation
Choice – Claire Leach
Facing Monsters – Rick Rifici
Mettle – Lewis Potts
Pieces – Jim Frater
Shipwreck Hunters Australia – Darren McCagh, Andre Rerekura 

Writing
Galup VR Experience – Ian Wilkes and Poppy van Oorde-Grainger with an oral history from Doolann-Leisha Eatts
How to Please a Woman – Renee Webster
Isolation in Lockdown – Donna Hughes
Match Made – Peter Williams and Chantelle Naude
Ngaluk Waangkiny – Ian Wilkes and Poppy van Oorde-Grainger

Performance
How to Please a Woman – Hayley McElhinney
Match Made – Peter Williams
Pieces – Alex Arco
Pieces – Megan Aspinall
Pieces – Monique Wilson
Where All Light Tends to Go – Emma Booth
Wimitj – Della Rae Morrison

Performance Under 18s – presented by The Ali Roberts Studio
(Not So) Great Expectations – Lauren Campbell
Choice – Saffron Bell
Pieces – Allegra Teo
Pieces – Jasmine Lucas
Wimitj – Tjiirm McGuire

Production Design (incl. costume, set design, hair and makeup etc)
Choice – Alzbeta Rekosh
How to Please a Woman – Emma Fletcher
Modern Clocks – Christian Kennedy
Pieces – Dennon Pike, Monique Wilson, Kristie Rowe, Tess Rowe, Shannon Murphy
Slasher Squad – Nathan Stone, Stuart Campbell

Editing – presented by Sandbox
How to Please a Woman – Merlin Eden
Pieces – Lawrie Silvestrin
Redzone – John McGovarin
Stage Changers – Chris Trappe
Walking Man – Frances Elliott

Sound or Sound Design – presented by Sandbyte
Facing Monsters – Xoe Baird, Ric Curtin, Jeremy Ashton
Freedom Swimmer
Shipwreck Hunters Australia – Jason North, Ned Beckley, Josh Hogan, Lucy Torvaldsen
Where All Light Tends To Go – Ric Curtin, Xoe Baird, Les Fiddess, Terri Bellem

Original Music – presented by RTRFM 92.1
Laugh With Me – Sean Tinnion
Making Dalison – Marc Earley
Immortal – Oscar Millar
Namarali – Cameron Deyell
Pieces – Tim Count
Walking Man – Mathew ‘Cheeky’ Cheetham
Where All Light Tends To Go – Adam Spark

Two Special Industry Awards were also awarded as part of the 2022 WASCAs; the Contribution to the Industry was awarded to lawyer Joan Peters and the Independent Spirit Award went to Ingrid van den Berge, Managing Director of Luna Palace Cinemas.

Both women have spent a quarter of a century honing their skills and becoming unrivalled leaders in their fields.

Joan is a media and entertainment lawyer, an experienced executive producer for film and TV, who has worked across countless screen productions. A valued member of the local and national industry, she has sat on both Screenwest and Screen Australia boards and was twice nominated for WA Citizen of the Year.  

Ingrid has been a passionate advocate for independent film and local filmmakers for the past 25 years, leading one of the most successful independent cinema chains in the country. Testament to this is the fact that Luna Leederville was recently voted Best Metro Independent Cinema in the Country at the 2022 Australian International Movie Convention. 

This year’s WASCA trophy was designed by Ryan Hodgson, Geographik and Square Peg Home. Produced using responsibly sourced Western Australian Yarri timber by Square Peg Home and Artcom Fabrication, they symbolise a true synergy of local creatives working together for an event that celebrates Western Australian creative excellence and innovation. 

The WASCAs are proudly presented and produced by the Revelation Perth International Film Festival with assistance from Sandbox Productions and in collaboration with the WA screen industry. 

For more information please visit www.wascreencultureawards.com.au and follow the WASCAs on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.