Dannon Wu, a young Perth filmmaker has taken out the top award at the Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF) for his film, Black Cockatoos: Cultural Significance.
“The inspiration for my film came from the Elders Yarning Circle, where it was extremely enlightening to hear about the hidden meanings behind Black Cockatoos and the collective frustrations and perspectives from the elders directly,” said Dannon Wu.
“I knew that the only way to present this documentary was to allow the speakers to tell it in their own words without narration and not shy away from emotion.”
Growing up in Perth, Dannon said he had been told that he would need to move to the eastern states to be a successful filmmaker. “The industry here is small, so it’s incredibly connection-based, but it’s been fantastic to see the growth of opportunities for filmmaking not just in Australia but particularly in WA,” he said.
Australia Youth Film Festival Winners:
ABC Best Overall Film:
Black Cockatoos: Cultural Significance by Dannon Wu
Ancestors of the Noongar people gave the name ‘Ngoolark’ to the Carnaby’s black cockatoo. Passing on their stories about these spiritual birds and what they meant to the old people and to culture is an important undertaking for Noongar Elders and their families today.
Best Acting:
Me, My Ralph and I by Maggie Brittingham
This film explores a young girl’s struggle to retain a sense of self among the pressure to grow up as fast as her growing sense of responsibility.
Best Documentary:
Greener Pastures by Lachlan Sonnemann
The story of farmers Sandra Jefford and Wilco Droppert from a Gippsland dairy farm as they manage the ever-evolving challenges of organic farming.
Best Editing:
Stuck in a Memory by Max Stanner
Writers Max and Alex were motivated to show how a person’s mind tends to cling on to certain elements of a relationship when a breakup leads to isolation and craving.
Best Cinematography:
A Man Paints a Woman by Thomas van Gool and Prospera Holder Young
Drawing on inspiration from other artworks, this film meditates on the reductive representation between the artist and the subject.
Best Animation:
Red Moon by Kath Yuan
“Red Moon is inspired by my comic strip based on my own experience of growing up as an East Asian woman who moved to a foreign country at the cusp of adolescence,” said Kath.
Festival Director Ryan Chow said this year’s festival, which attracted 774 entries, revealed extraordinary creativity, passion and motivation among Australia’s young filmmakers.
“Our second annual festival has been an amazing success. I look forward to seeing the talent that was so evident across our pool of entrants grow, to create an Australian industry that eventually wows the film-making world,” he said.
For more information about the Australia Youth Film Festival, visit: www.auyff.com for details.
Image: Black Cockatoos: Cultural Significance by Dannon Wu (film still)