A massive thank you to everyone who participated in the Sydney and Melbourne Lift-Off Film Festival 2021. It's been absolutely fantastic having so many filmmakers involved and seeing the global support for true indie film...
The judges' votes have been counted and added to the audience's feedback. Huge congratulations to the filmmakers who screened with us! A special well done to the following films...
Festival Winners
Best Film
(next screening with Lift-Off in Melbourne 2022)
Tallebudgera Road
Dir. Jonathan Finney
Synopsis: A troubled hitchhiker grapples with the imminence of leaving the refuge he's found in a mother and her son amid a harrowing paddock valley.
Best Film
(next screening with Lift-Off in Sydney 2022)
Enough
Dir. Apostolos Vasileiadis
Synopsis: During a life drawing class, the art model struggles with determining who claims ownership of her body.
Season Award Nominations
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event which celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films which have excelled in their respective category are nominated and invited to attend the prestigious Lift-Off Season Awards, culminating at the end of the Lift-Off season. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.
Tallebudgera Road
Dir. Jonathan Finney
Synopsis:A troubled hitchhiker grapples with the imminence of leaving the refuge he's found in a mother and her son amid a harrowing paddock valley.
Nominated for Best Cinematography
If I didn't care
Dir. Peter Bjørklund Andersen
Synopsis: Titus’ dad was never present – not even when they were together. Father and son have not seen each other in ages, when Titus is called and asked to take his terminally ill father to the hospital. Despite an urge to confront the man who was never there for him and suddenly needs his help, Titus is burdened by the fact that it may well be the last thing he ever gets to say to him. On their two trips to hospital, Titus’ father takes his son out on a journey and Titus starts to realize how much he can still learn from his father.
Nominated for Best First-Time Film
Audience Choice
The Audience Choice award is given to the filmmakers whose film received the most votes during the festival. The filmmakers will be invited to join us on the Lift-Off YouTube channel for a directors commentary roundtable. Join in the conversation as we delve deeper into each film.
Bloom
Dir. Paul De Cinque
Synopsis: Bloom tells the lighthearted comedic tale of Betty, an elderly woman whose rich inner life belies her seemingly conventional appearance.
The Little Bird
Dir. Neil Gopalan Hausey
Synopsis: Two vignettes of a boys life, connected through memory.
Sticks and Strings
Dir. Luke Antoun
Synopsis: Casey's only dream in life is to learn the Guitar. But when her brother refuses to teach her, she must go to whatever length possible to connect with him once more.