Filmmaker Abe Forsythe has landed first prize at Tropfest 2010 for his film Shock – his entry inspired by the live-on-air lie detector scandal involving disgraced and generally disliked-to-the-point-of-hatred radio presenter, Kyle Sandilands.
Forsythe’s film was selected over 15 other entrants by the high-profile judges, including Frodo (Elijah Wood), Toni Collette, Peter and Michael Spierig – directors of Australian vampire flick Daybreakers, and David Michod whose debut feature Animal Kingdom killed at Sundance earlier this year.
It isn’t Forsythe’s first fruity taste of Tropfest success: last year he won second prize and was awarded Best Comedy for his short Being Carl Williams a five minute piece that reveals the potential consequences of mistaken identity.
Featuring a few recognisable faces, it’s well worth a look:
Second prize was awarded to My Neighbourhood Has Been Overrun By Baboons co-directed by Cameron Edser and Michael Richards (not to be confused with the racist Seinfeld actor), and third prize went to director Matthew Chuang for his short, Last Roll Of The Dice.
All the shortlisted films are now available to view online and the level of quality coming from local Australian talent is genuinely impressive, so get on there and check them out.
