‘My Queer Career’ Awards a prestigious competition for Australian short films held at Sydney’s Queer Screen Film Fest,

It’s that time of year again when Hollywood and the mainstream movie industry are tripping over themselves to hand out Awards and  give themselves a pat on the back. There is such a degree of predictability that if a journalist tips the wrong winner, they declare a ‘giant misstep’ to cover their mistakes.  However, among this myriad of self-congratulating ceremonies, there are a few that we still maintain a great deal of respect for.

Naturally, they include the DORIANS which are in the gift of the Gay And Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA), of which Queerguru is a proud member, and also the Independent Spirit Awards whixh were announced this weekend. Now we would like to add the ‘My Queer Career’ Awards, which is a prestigious competition for Australian short films held at Sydney’s Queer Screen Film Festival.  It’s been celebrating Australian short films since 1994, and there is now over $17,000 worth of cash and support to be won, with a major prize of $3,000 plus automatic entry to the international Iris Prize for the Best Film winner.

Die Bully Die, directed by brothers Nathan Lacey and Nick Lacey, received the Best Film award. It also picked up Best Screenplay for friends Matthew Backer and Drew Weston, who also acted in the lead roles, as well as the popular Audience Award. The film sees protagonist Max’s grudge against his high school bully Adam manifest in horrific ways when they meet in a fancy restaurant.

Drew Weston and Matthew Backer  told QUEERGURU “Drew and I wanted to write something exploring my past experience of being bullied at high school and the present day consequences of that and we instantly felt like it was a topic that not only contained a lot of drama and complexity but also a heap of humour and heart,” 

With Love, Lottie director Lily Drummond received the Emerging Filmmaker award and lead actor Bedelia Lowrencev was bestowed with the award for Emerging Performer.

The newly established Mardi Gras Film Festival Best EU Feature Film Prize, presented by the Delegation of the European Union to Australia, was awarded to French comedy drama Somewhere in Love (original language title Une vie Rêvée), written and directed by Morgan Simon and was the Closing Night Gala Film.  This prize is part of the strategy’s commitment of the EU to fighting discrimination, ensuring the safety of LGBTIQ people, and supporting global action on inclusivity and diversity

Morgan Simon said he was honoured to be awarded the inaugural MGFF Best EU Feature Film Prize for Somewhere in Love. A touching film about finding oneself, it celebrates everyday love in its many forms and stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Félix Lefebvre and Lubna Azabal. “It’s dedicated to those we don’t believe in. Yet in them lies the definition of freedom and happiness, as well as dignity and honesty. This is a film that moves towards the light, a direction that I think we absolutely need today.”

In Cinema in Sydney 13 – 27 Feb 2025
On Demand Australia-wide 28 Feb – 10 Mar 2025