Arncliffe filmmaker Melissa Anastasi has won a 2018 Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship.
Melissa was one of five filmmakers who will receive a $50,000 grant, the largest cash fellowship for short film in Australia, to make a film which will premiere at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival.
The Fellows were selected by a jury of industry luminaries from a shortlist of 20 emerging filmmakers.
Ms Anastasi is a filmmaker committed to telling intimate character-driven stories that challenge and provoke audiences.
She is currently developing the feature screenplay Bluebirds with support from Screen Australia and Screen NSW.
“My passion is telling stories of outsiders trying to find their place within relationships and society at large,’’ Ms Anastasi said.
‘‘The Fellowship is a wonderful launching pad for my next film; an opportunity to make it with high level professional support and services, and to then share it with a Sydney Film Festival audience.”
The fellowship announcement was made at the world premiere of the 2017 Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship films on June 12.
Leading Australian actress Marta Dusseldorp presided over the 2018 selection process as Jury Chair.
“What an honour it has been to read and indulge myself with great short Australian films,” Ms Dusseldorp said.
“The four finalists showed a holistic understanding of their craft and vision.
‘‘We believe these filmmakers have truly embraced all that was asked for by the Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship and Sydney Film Festival.
“These are strong, unique stories investigating identity, love, family, relationships and the human experience.
‘‘We cannot wait to see them at the Sydney Film Festival in 2019.”
As a writer, Ms Anastasi’s feature film screenplays have been shortlisted for the Sundance Lab, and previously selected for the Binger FilmLab in Amsterdam.
Her short films have screened worldwide at more than 40 international film festivals.
She said film, and the Sydney Film Festival, were perfect vehicles to showcase the stories of those on the margins of society.
‘‘Film has a lot to say about the people we leave behind,’’ Ms Anastasi said.
‘‘They don’t have a place, they fall through the cracks.
‘‘The fact that there are all these stories out there that we don’t hear about or don’t get to see.
‘‘Hopefully this is the chance for them to see some of these stories on the screen from a perspective they may nto have expected.’’
