TROPFEST 2005 - WINNERS

KINGS OF SHORT COMEDY
Comedy still reigns in shorts: Luke Eve (NSW) was awarded first prize at Sony Tropfest 2005 for his comedy/drama, Australian Summer, while Nash Edgerton’s Lucky won second prize, and Alister Grierson’s Bomb won best comedy and the audience award.

Luke Eve, Sony Tropfest winner said, "Australian Summer is about two homeless men who use the power of imagination and the power of story to overcome their reality. As a filmmaker, there's no other forum like Sony Tropfest, all you want to do is get your film seen by the biggest audience and it's here, at the largest short film festival in the world. Winning this festival open's doors, it's a dream!" 

Audiences of over 130,000 watched the 16 finalist films beamed via satellite to venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Hobart and Brisbane. 

The panel of judges comprised Geoffrey Rush, Magda Szubanski, Bryan Singer, Abbie Cornish, Jackie O'Sullivan and Sony Tropfest 2004 winner Gary Eck. Guests in the VIP marquee included Heath Ledger, Daniel MacPherson, Zoe Carides, Yahoo Serious and a host of filmmakers, media and industry executives. 

The awards were presented as follows: 
FIRST PRIZE 
Film: Australian Summer 
Director: Luke Eve 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Geoffrey Rush 

SECOND PRIZE 
Film: Lucky 
Director: Nash Edgerton 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Geoffrey Rush 

BEST MALE ACTOR (shared prize) 
Actor: Arky Michael / Bruce Spence 
Film: Australian Summer 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Bryan Singer 

BEST FEMALE ACTOR 
Actor: Natalie Carr 
Film: In Your Dreams 
State: VIC 
Presented by: Bryan Singer 

BEST COMEDY 
Film: Bomb 
Director: Alister Grierson 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Magda Szubanski 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 
Cinematographer: Marc Windon 
Film: The Razor's Edge 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Zoe Carides 

BEST SCREENPLAY (shared prize) 
Writer: Greg Williams / Justine Gallacher & Alister Grierson 
Film: In Your Dreams & Bomb 
State: VIC & NSW 
Presented by: Jackie O'Sullivan 

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE 
Composer: Elliot Wheeler 
Film: Garbage Man 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Yahoo Serious 

THE TROPICANA AWARD 
Film: This Film Is Yet To Be Classified 
Director: Jayce White 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Gary Eck 

SONY FOUNDATION YOUNG TALENT AWARD 
Film: The Razor's Edge 
Director: Gabriel Dowrick 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Abbie Cornish 

SONY ERICSSON PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 
Film: Bomb 
Director: Alister Grierson 
State: NSW 
Presented by: Heath Ledger 

Network Ten 'inTENship' Award 
Film: In Your Dreams 
Producer: Bridget Lloyd Jones 
State: VIC 
Presented by: Daniel MacPherson