Jenny Wynter was the winner of the Pitch Perfect Award for her pitch Viking Mama.
The winners of the fourth annual Melbourne WebFest were announced last night at a gala awards night at Deakin Edge, Federation Square.
In a festival-first, Melbourne WebFest held a live pitching competition, Pitch Perfect @ MWF with ABC iview, in which 20 participants had two minutes to pitch an idea for an original web series based on the theme ‘Anytime, Anywhere’.
The debut Pitch Perfect Award was presented to Jenny Wynter for her pitch Viking Mama, by ABC iview Content Manager Kevin Mountain.
Viking Mama, a comedy, follows a woman from a distant time through the fields of present day suburbia. Juggling her 21st century tribe of children, a passive aggressive “perfect” neighbour and the pressures of modern domestic life, she struggles to fight the war of parenting as a competitive artform.
Wynter will receive a cash prize of $5,000 towards professional development, covering travel and accommodation to Marseille WebFest to attend a screenwriting residency to develop the idea and pitch it back to the ABC.
“The panel were impressed by the quality of all of the shortlisted submissions and wish to extend big congratulations to all entrants, especially winner Jenny Wynter. iview is committed to supporting local talent and program makers, and we're very excited to follow the progress and development of Viking Mama,” said Mountain.
The prestigious Grand Jury Award was awarded to British series Ren: The Girl with the Mark, which sees the winner receive all-expenses paid trips to LA WebFest and Marseille WebFest with automatic entry into both festivals.
In addition to this, Ren: The Girl with the Mark receives automatic entry to Rome WebFest in September and Rio WebFest in December this year, as well as K WebFest (Seoul) and WebFest Montréal in 2017.
Other wins included The Katering Show Season 2 for Best Australian Comedy, Aunty Donna for Best Lead Ensemble, The Justice Lease Season 2: Dorm of Justice for Best Director and Crowd Favourite, and The Wizards of Aus for Best Supporting Actor, Best Sound Design and Best Visual Effects.
MWF Jury President and keynote speaker John Cabrera (Gilmore Girls, H+: The Digital Series) said of his time at the festival: "I'm not sure what I've been more inspired by at this year's Melbourne WebFest, the quality of the content, or the vibrant community that has converged around it."
Melbourne WebFest 2016 Award Winners
Best Australian Comedy: The Katering Show Season 2 (AUS)
Best International Comedy: Der Lack ist ab (The Glory is gone) (GER)
Best Australian Drama: Greenfield (AUS)
Best International Drama: Osmosis – The Series (FRA)
Best Australian Non-Fiction: Everything Is Connected (AUS)
Best International Non-Fiction: Listen Up: Making It at Berklee College of Music (USA)
Best Australian Animation: The Shapes (AUS)
Best International Animation: Shorts about Giants (ARG)
Best Cinematography: Arthur (CH)
Best Director: The Justice Lease, Season 2: Dorm of Justice (AUS)
Best Editing: The Graceland Happiness Project (AUS)
Best Leading Actor or Ensemble: Aunty Donna: 1999 (AUS)
Best Supporting Actor or Ensemble: The Wizards of Aus (AUS)
Best Score: Arthur (CH)
Best Screenplay: Osmosis – The Series (FRA)
Best Sound Design: The Wizards of Aus (AUS)
Best Visual/Special Effects: The Wizards of Aus (AUS)
Best of Spotlight: Movement (AUS)
Crowd Favourite: The Justice Lease, Season 2: Dorm of Justice (AUS)
Outstanding Diversity: Her Story (USA)
People’s Choice: Mute – The Series (BRA)
Pitch Perfect Award: Viking Mama – Jenny Wynter
Grand Jury Award: Ren: The Girl with the Mark (UK)