SYDNEY (AP) — An Australian film about a woman in need benefiting from the kindness of others won top honors at the world's biggest short-film festival.
"We've All Been There" director Nicholas Clifford received the Tropfest first-place award Sunday from judging panelist and "Avatar" actor Sam Worthington.
Worthington said earlier about judging the festival, "It's not about budget, it's not about box office, it's about pure entertainment and that to me is what film should be about. Not all that other junk."
Clifford joked later that he gets grief about resembling Worthington, so their meeting "is going to give everyone a bit more ammunition to throw at me."
His film's star, Laura Wheelright, was named best actress while Nick Hamilton was named best actor for the time-travel tale, "Time."
For his first-place win, Clifford gets $10,000 cash, a trip to Los Angeles to meet with film executives and other prizes.
The outdoor film festival held since 1993 has grown to a large-scale event attracting thousands to a park near Sydney's central business district.
The next Tropfest will be Dec. 8 in Centennial Park — an advanced date and new location to accommodate larger crowds and to attract fans and VIP attendees without having to compete for attention with the Oscars and other international film events in February.
