Another First For The Adelaide Film Festival Natuzzi Confirms International Award For Best Feature Film
The Adelaide Film Festival is proud to announce the establishment of an international competition in 2007 with the presentation of the NATUZZI INTERNATIONAL AWARD for BEST FEATURE FILM, with a cash prize of $AUD25,000. This will be the first of its kind in Australia and places the Adelaide Film Festival alongside a small number of International Film Festivals offering substantial cash awards including Berlin, Karlovy Vary, Pusan, Tribeca and Tokyo Festivals. This award has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of NATUZZI with support from the MARAS GROUP.
Twelve narrative feature films will be invited into competition, at least one of which must be Australian, and they must have been completed by January 1 2006. In the process of selecting the 12 films the festival will be looking for a distinctive voice, bold storytelling, creative risk taking - essentially fabulous films that really engage and transport the viewer.
The films will be judged by an International Jury of prominent film industry players. The Jury membership and the competition films will be announced in January 2007. The President of the Jury will award the NATUZZI INTERNATIONAL AWARD on the closing night of the festival.
Says AFF Chairman Cheryl Bart, “We are thrilled to be working with NATUZZI to deliver such a substantial prize which will be awarded to the director of the winning film. We are grateful to Natuzzi and the Maras Group for supporting this initiative through their sponsorship.”
AFF Director Katrina Sedgwick says: “The Natuzzi International Award continues to build Adelaide Film Festival’s reputation as an important place to screen your film. It’s clear that these awards can impact in the most positive way on the festival experience, and its position in the global film market”.
Natuzzi stores South Australia proprietor, Nir Peled says,”With Natuzzi being the world leaders in our sector, it is our pleasure to be associated with this important film festival, celebrating excellence in the arts and encouraging a creative passion like our own. Natuzzi recently sponsored the Venice Film Festival and Natuzzi stores South Australia are proud to be able to continue the worldwide effort of supporting film festivals that give voice to innovation and artistic brilliance. The Company’s motto, “It’s How You Live” doesn’t just refer to the sofas and furnishings you choose for your living room, but also to the different worlds of music, art and film that enrich your life.”
Premier and Arts Minister Mike Rann says that when he first envisaged this Adelaide Film Festival in the late 1990s, he wanted it to go well beyond simply showing wonderful films.
“This festival was also designed to examine, fostered and nourish talent within the film industry.
“That is why the Festival has a special investment fund that commissions new films, unlike any other festival in Australia. So far we have helped finance internationally successful films such as Ten Canoes and Look Both Ways, and we look forward to an impressive slate of projects being unveiled at the 2007 festval.
“The Adelaide Film Festival is about starting the creative process as well as celebrating its success with audiences and I applaud this fantastic new award which will add to the Festival’s growing appeal,” Mr Rann said.
