AAP – Newcastle filmmaker Genevieve Clay has won Tropfest 2009 with her short film Be My Brother.
The 20-year-old took out the top prize at the 17th annual Tropfest for her story about a young man with Down Syndrome.
…”It’s my lead actor’s film, It came from Gerard O’Dwyer,”
she said.
O’Dwyer picked up the best male actor award on the night.
…Clay said she discovered O’Dwyer while she was making a documentary for Down Syndrome NSW.
“He just burst out with a Shakespeare soliloquy on the first day,” she said.
…”I thought what an incredible young man, I have got to get this guy on film.”
…Clay said Be My Brother took almost a year to make and she was quietly confident about its chances of winning.
Clay won a prize package worth $100,000, including a trip to LA to meet with film executives, and $5,000 cash.
…Second prize went to director Abe Forsythe for Being Carl Williams, while Tim Dean came third for his film Fences…SBS reports.