AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF CINEMA AND TELEVISION ARTS ANNOUNCES BYRON KENNEDY AWARD RECIPIENT
Today the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts announced the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) as the recipient of the Byron Kennedy Award at the 3rd AACTA Awards.
The Byron Kennedy Award celebrates outstanding creative enterprise within the film and television industries and is given to an individual or organisation whose work embodies innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
First awarded in 1984, the Byron Kennedy Award, presented by Kennedy Miller Mitchell in association with AACTA, includes a cash prize of $10,000 and is selected by an appointed jury.
Past Byron Kennedy Award recipients comprise writers, performers, filmmakers, technicians and film festival founders, including VFX and animation house Animal Logic, Festival Founder and Director John Polson, Editor Jill Bilcock and Writer/Performer Chris Lilley. The most recent Byron Kennedy Award recognised the talent of filmmaker, animator and artist Sarah Watt (awarded posthumously at the 2nd AACTA Awards in January this year). A full list of recipients can be found on the AACTA website.
The Byron Kennedy Award jury said of their recent decision: “We have chosen the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) under the stewardship of Ron Johanson ACS for its enduring and pivotal role in the pursuit of excellence throughout Australian cinema.
“With its cohort of world renowned cinematographers, the ACS is about enhancing skills, exploring new technology and passing on knowledge to those who follow in their footsteps. Their enthusiasm and generosity of spirit makes them the backbone of our industry.”
Damian Tewhella, AACTA CEO said of the news, “When you think of iconic Australian screen stories, beautiful and powerful images are easily recalled. The ACS has a talented stable of cinematographers in demand both here and abroad for their masterful ability to work with mood, light and composition and for their innovative and collegiate nature. Since its inception 55 years ago, the Australian Cinematographers Society’s tradition of mutual cooperation has established an invaluable and admired pillar of the Australian screen industry. I congratulate Ron Johanson ACS and all members of the Society on their work past and present.”
The Australian Cinematographers Society formed in 1958 with the purpose of providing a forum for cinematographers to further develop their skills through mutual cooperation.
The ACS now has 10 registered branches across Australia and over 1500 members including AACTA Raymond Longford Award recipient Don McAlpine ACS ASC (MENTAL, MOULIN ROUGE, MY BRILLIANT CAREER, DON’S PARTY), Dean Semler AM ACS ASC ( THE LIGHT HORSEMAN, DEAD CALM, COCKTAIL, DANCES WITH WOLVES, APOCALYPTO) John Seale AM ACS ASC ( MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, BMX BANDITS) and Russell Boyd ACS ASC (MASTER AND COMMANDER, GALLIPOLI, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK).
National President Ron Johanson ACS said of the news: “On behalf of all our ACS members, families and colleagues, I thank AACTA and the members of the Byron Kennedy Award jury for this prestigious Award, which recognises the achievements of our members and our Society.
The Byron Kennedy Award will be presented to Ron Johanson ACS on behalf of the Australian Cinematographers Society at the 3rd AACTA Awards Ceremony in Sydney on Thursday 30 January 2014. Tickets are now on sale. For more information on the Awards please visit www.aacta.org.
