41st Festival 1994

Films this year included Francois Giraud’s Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, Krzysztof Kieślowski’s contemporary classic Three Colours: White, Steve James’ Hoop Dreams, Werner Herzog’s Bells From the Deep, Ken Loach’s Ladybird, Ladybird and Paul J. Hogan’s Muriel’s Wedding.

Retrospectives this year included the films of Yasujiro Ozu 1903-1963, curated and introduced by Donald Ritchie. In addition to this, the first Sydney Salute was held, intended as a tribute to an individual who has made a significant contribution to, or a high achievement in, the film world. British director Ken Russell was the recipient and he travelled to Sydney for the occasion, speaking in the State Theatre.

The Ian McPherson lecture was delivered by John Flaus.

Opening Night Film: That’s Entertainment! III (directed by Bud Friedgen and Michael J. Sheridan)

Closing Night Film: Total Balalaika Show (directed by Aki Kaurismaki)

Award Winners

Dendy Award for Australian Short Films (General):

Palace Café, directed by Andrew Lancaster

Dendy Award for Australian Short Films (Fiction):

Only the Brave, directed by Ana Kokkinos

Dendy Award for Australian Short Films (Documentary):

Motherland, directed by Kriv Stenders

Yoram Gross Animation Award:

Midriffini, directed by Sabrina Schmid

Ethnic Affairs Commission (EAC) Award:

Motherland, directed by Kriv Stenders

NSW Film and Television Office Rouben Mamoulian Award:

Fences, directed by David Caesar