Jury leader Eddie Cockrell announces the award
Kim Nguyen’s haunting tale of an African child soldier has won the inaugural Jury Award for Best Film at the Possible Worlds Canadian Film Festival.
War Witch was selected by a jury comprised of Eddie Cockrell, a veteran of the Montréal and Toronto film festivals and writer for Variety, The Washington Post and Sydney Morning Herald, award-winning Australian film critic Alice Tynan (702 ABC, The Movie Club and Cine Guide on Showtime), and Sydney-based Canadian TV producer and Industry Program Manager at AFTRS David Fedirchuk.
“Equal parts haunting, bewitching and unforgettable, WAR WITCH is a courageous and important film about determination and survival set against the backdrop of the horrors of war,” said Jury leader Eddie Cockrell, adding that the Jury’s decision was unanimous.
The winning filmmaker, Kim Nguyen, receives a return trip from Canada to Sydney courtesy of Air Canada, to help strengthen their links with the Australian film industry.
The award was announced at the Possible Worlds Closing Night Gala, held in the stunning Elizabeth Room at the Sir Stamford at Circular Quay Hotel, before the screening of the Closing Night film (which, fortuitously for the audience, was War Witch).
The Possible Worlds accolade joins awards for Best Film and Best Actress at Tribeca Film Festival, and Best Actress (the Silver Bear) for lead Rachel Mwanza at Berlin Film Festival, awarded this year.
To be announced shortly is the Audience Award for Best Film with a cash prize of AUD$1000 for the winning filmmaker.
Check out the photos below of the Closing Night Gala!
Jury David Fedirchuk, Alice Tynan and Eddie Cockrell
Festival Director Matt Ravier
Festival Manager Karina Libbey and Canadian guest filmmaker Ingrid Veninger
Festival Director Matt Ravier (far right) with the Jury
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 4:42PM 
