The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) announced the winners of the 2024 awards on Saturday evening local time, including Matthew Rankin, director of Universal languagewhich won VicScreen’s premier Bright Horizons Award with prize money of A$140,000 (US$95,100).
The Canadian surreal comedy is set “somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg” and blends three seemingly unrelated stories. Rankin co-stars and also directs.
Full list of winners below
The MIFF jury awarded over A$250,000 in prize money across five categories. Commenting on the awards and this year’s blockbuster festival season, MIFF Artistic Director Al Cossar said: “It has been so exciting to see the enthusiasm and absolute cinematic maximalism with which Melbourne audiences have embraced this year’s MIFF program – across over 280 films, we have seen audiences join us in celebrating incredible new Australian cinema, discovering the year’s cinematic highlights, exploring unseen corners of film history and meeting over 130 guests and artists in attendance. There is always a special alchemy between film and cinemagoers at our festival and this year it has been particularly special to see the momentum that MIFF attendees have brought to our festival and to experience these special ‘only at MIFF’ moments over the last few weeks.”
“And it has all led to this result – our celebration and recognition of exceptional films and filmmakers. Finding and nurturing talent is an indelible goal of the festival, and to see that talent recognized at the MIFF awards ceremony and at our festival is a wonderful privilege. We hope this will create new opportunities that will transform the careers of the award winners – our congratulations to all.”
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks added: “The Allan Labor Government is proud to support one of the world’s biggest film awards, MIFF’s 2024 Bright Horizons Award. This award brings global attention to the winner and this festival and is part of our commitment to supporting Victoria’s film industry at all levels – from our incredible community of local filmmakers to world-class facilities and iconic events like MIFF..”
The recipient of the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award is Jaydon Martin, who recognizes his distinctive cinematic blend of documentary and feature filmmaking for Flat headThe AUD$70,000 award recognizes Martin’s directorial work and is presented to an Australian film talent for their work in an Australian feature film screening at the festival.
WINNER OF THE MIFF AWARD 2024
Bright Horizons Award presented by VicScreen
Universal language Director: Matthew Rankin
Bright Horizons – Special Jury Prize
Flow Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award
Jaydon Martin, Flat head – Direction
The Uncle Jack Charles Award in collaboration with the Kearney Group
April Phillips, Kajoo Yannaga (Come, let’s go together) – Director, Lead Artist
Fearless Audience Award (joint winners)
Agree Co-directed by Krunal Padhiar and Semara Jose
Left writing hook Director: Shannon Owen
MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award, presented by Collarts
Germany Director: Maria Zanetti
