Press release from ACS
Cinematographers around the nation are gearing up for their once a year chance to appear in front of the camera at the 2010 Australian Cinematographers Society National Awards. These are the peak awards that celebrate the art of moving image photography in Australia. This year's gala event at the ANZ Pavilion, Victorian Arts Centre is hosted by the Victorian Branch of the ACS, on Saturday May 1, and for the first time will be screened later on The Movie Network.
The ceremony will see the presentation of awards in eighteen categories including 16 Golden Tripods, the presentation of the prestigious Milli Award, which is presented to the Australian Cinematographer of the Year and is the highest honour for a cinematographer in this country, the presentation of the International Cinematographer of the Year Award as well as the recipient of the Neil Davis International News Award. This award is named in honour of legendary news cameraman Neil Davis, who was killed while on assignment in Thailand. The night will also see 3 inductees into the ACS Hall of Fame as well as the announcement of the inaugural recipient of the National Film & Sound Archive – ACS John Leake OAM ACS Award to an emerging cinematographer, which carries a $5,000 cash prize.
One of the highlights of the National awards celebrations will be the second KODAK Q & A SERIES. This year, two films will be screened at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, followed by a Q&A.
On Friday, April 30, from 3.00pm until 6.00pm., Andrew Lesnie ACS ASC will screen Peter Jackson's film "The Lovely Bones" and from 12.00 noon until 3.00pm, on Saturday, May 1, Russell Boyd ACS ASC will screen Peter Weir's truly wonderful film "Gallipoli." The screenings will be moderated by Renee Brack from the Movie Network and are made possible with the assistance of ACMI – The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the National Film and Sound Archive and the Producers of The Lovely Bones. These screenings are free to all ACS members, supporters, families and friends.
The Australian Cinematographers Society was established to further the advancement of cinematography in all fields and give due recognition to the outstanding work performed by Australian cinematographers. The ACS was founded by a group of cinecamera people in Sydney in 1957 and was originally the exclusive domain of work created on film. With the influx of portable video cameras, the Society opened its doors to all forms of cinematographers and the membership now reflects the changing face of the industry. The ACS boasts a membership of over 1,200 Australia wide and operates branches in every state and territory in Australia.
Australia's rich history of great cinematographers sees them working around the globe in all types of productions. Amongst them are Academy Award winners Russell Boyd ACS ASC, John Seale ACS ASC, Andrew Lesnie ACS ASC, Dean Semler OAM ACS ASC and Dion Beebe ACS ASC, who follow in a tradition that began with cinematographer Damien Parer's documentary win in 1942 and Robert Krasker ACS winning the Oscar in 1950 for his black and white cinematography of the classic thriller "The Third Man".