A challenging yet witty film about the impact of culture clash and racial stereotypes on young Australians from Asian backgrounds has won the Year 12 award in the annual Student Film Festival conducted by Independent Schools Victoria (ISV).
Titled The Banana in Me and directed by Yan Zi (Rosey) Feng from Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, the film exposes the difficulties, dilemmas and prejudices confronting young people who are seen as ‘the perpetual foreigner’.
Film festival judges, Christine Evely and Garry Westmore from ACMI, describe it as a smart, confident film that tackles racial stereotypes in an unsettling yet humourous way.
Winners in the festival were announced today. They were selected from entries submitted by young film makers in four categories ranging from early years to Year 12.
The festival, held as part of ISV’s long running arts program, is open to schools in all sectors and all states. Scroll below to find out all of the winning entries and watch the films.
Winner (Judge’s Award)
The Banana In Me
Yan Zi (Rosey) Feng, Korowa Anglican Girls’ School
Highly commended
I Am
Charli Curtis, Bentleigh Secondary College
People’s Choice Award
All In
Theo Renner, St Michael’s Grammar School
Winner (Judge’s Award)
I am in charge
Ned Cox, Scotch College
Highly commended + People’s Choice Award
Consumed
Tiger Doultree, Firbank Grammar School
Winner (Judge’s Award)
Church Goers
William Longley, Blake Wilson, Max Phelps & Charlie Zelouf, Scotch College
Highly commended
The Spider
Soumil Aggarwal, Beaconhills College
People’s Choice Award
Baking Choc Chip Cookies
Aerynn Khong, Shiven Rewal & Liana Spencer, Huntingtower School
Winner (Judge’s Award) + People’s Choice Award:
ATC Now! Kids News Show
Grade 5 Media Class, Al-Taqwa College
Highly commended
Behind the Scenes – Nemo
Donvale Christian College
We both thoroughly enjoyed our role as judges of the extraordinary films that were part of this year’s Independent Schools Victoria Student Film Festival. Each year this festival provides an opportunity to support the growth of young filmmakers. We were impressed with the variety of films from those that cleverly conveyed very simple ideas to those that thoughtfully explored highly complex themes; with this year’s films employing a rich range of filmic styles and techniques.
A well crafted film can enable important ideas to be shared, problems to be explored and sometimes even solved. For some, the planning, organisation, logistics and creativity involved in filmmaking can open up pathways to diverse careers. For others, filmmaking may offer a chance to productively explore thoughts, emotions and feelings or big ideas about our world and its peoples.
– Christine Evely (Head of Education) & Garry Westmore, Senior Producer School Programs (ACMI)
