Media

This year’s Melbourne Airport Emerging Australian Filmmaker Award goes to local
filmmaker Jonathon auf der Heide for his short film Hell’s Gates.

Jonathon is set to begin production in August for a feature film based on Hell’s Gates and
plans to premiere it at another prominent film festival – a goal which the Melbourne Airport
cash and travel prize can help him to achieve.

Shown at this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), Hell’s Gates follows the
survival story of convict Alexander Pearce and his infamous journey into the Van Dieman’s
Land wilderness. The actors are local professionals and graduates from the VCA, with
Jonathon himself graduating from the school only last year.

“Our film maker award has had some fantastic success. The 2007 winner, Warwick
Thornton, went on to win his category at the Berlin Film Festival this year, and the 2006
winner Julius Avery won the Jury Award at Cannes just a few months ago. His second
award winning film, Jerrycan, also screened at this year’s MIFF,” said Geoffrey Conaghan
General Manager Corporate Affairs.

“MIFF is a growing feature on Melbourne’s events calendar and Melbourne Airport is proud
to be a part of it” said Geoffrey. “Congratulations must go to MIFF for being an incubator of
truly world class talent, and to the judges for picking talent that can compete on the world
stage.”


The Melbourne Airport Emerging Talent Program supports the following festivals and cultural awards:

Melbourne Airport Emerging Australian Filmmaker Award
Melbourne International Film Festival

Melbourne Airport “I’m off to Edinburgh” Award for Outstanding Melbourne Newcomer
Melbourne Fringe Festival

Melbourne Airport Innovator Award
Linden, St Kilda Centre for Contemporary Arts

Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award
Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Mietta Song Recital Award

To find out more about the Melbourne Airport Emerging Talent Program including interviews with winning artists visit www.melbourneairport.com.au/emergingtalent.