Female talent celebrated at 2024 Australian Women’s Film Festival supported by M&C Saatchi

Proudly supported by the M&C Saatchi Group, the 2024 Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF) lit up Sydney last night with a celebration of female talent both in front of and behind the camera. The event honoured trailblazing women who are redefining the film industry and breaking barriers for future generations.

Now in its fourth year, the AWFF continues to provide a platform for female storytellers and leaders, empowering them to showcase their creativity and impact in a historically male-dominated industry. Co-founders Kelly Tomasich and Tahyna MacManus expressed their pride in seeing the initiative grow year after year: “It’s truly humbling to see AWFF become a key fixture in the Australian film and entertainment industry calendar. Our goal has always been to address industry imbalance and we are so grateful for the continued support of our sponsors, helping us to showcase and celebrate the remarkable work and talent of female storytellers.”

Hosted by Australian media personality Poppy Reid, the night saw an influential panel of judges, including Kyas Hepworth (head of Screen NSW), Leah Purcell (director, writer and producer), Sophie Wilde (actor), and Bella Heathcote (actor), recognising the outstanding contributions of women in film.

A highlight of the evening was the AWFF Groundbreaker Award, presented to Tracey Corbin-Matchett (pictured above) for her tireless advocacy for greater representation of people with disabilities in the screen industry. Her groundbreaking work continues to challenge the status quo and push for inclusive storytelling.

Leah Purcell (pictured above), an internationally acclaimed actor, director, producer, and writer, was honoured with the AWFF Trailblazer Award. As a proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman, Leah has been a formidable force in the creative landscape for over 25 years, continually breaking new ground and inspiring others.

The night also featured the presentation of the M&C Saatchi Group Audience Choice Award, presented by Amanda Quested M&C Saatchi Group’s head of marketing, to writer and director, Briar March, for I See You, recognising the power of audience engagement in celebrating emerging talents.

The wider collection of Australian Women’s Film Festival Award Winners included:

BEST COMEDIC FILM – 2004 Was Twenty Years Ago
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM – Memorabilia
BEST ANIMATED FILM – Chicken
BEST DRAMATIC FILM – Sleeping Beauties
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – I See You
BEST SCREENPLAY – Push
BEST ACTOR – Anne March, I See You
BEST DIRECTOR – Pia Derya for Sleeping Beauties
JUDGES ONE TO WATCH AWARD – Aarushi Chowdhury
AUDIENCE AWARD – I See You

Hepworth reflects on this year’s impressive submissions, saying: “There were many outstanding films in this year’s submissions and it was wonderful to see the level of craft from such a wide range of female storytellers. I was delighted to be a part of the judging panel alongside Leah Purcell, Sophie Wilde and Bella Heathcote and hope everyone enjoyed the evening celebrating women in film.”

The Australian Women’s Film Festival 2024 not only celebrated achievements but also reinforced the importance of continuing to elevate women’s voices in the film industry, ensuring a more inclusive and representative future for all

For more information, visit: https://awff.com.au