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South Australia’s film industry celebrates at the 2024 Ruby Awards
December 5, 2024 2024 Ruby Awards Winners, Photo Credit: Arts SA
It was a great night for South Australia’s screen sector, with South Australia’s screen creative sector winning in three categories at the 2024 Ruby Awards, South Australia’s highest honor for the arts and creative industries sector.
Award-winning sound designer, recordist and mixer James Currie has been honored with the Premier’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes exceptional South Australians who have made an indelible contribution to arts and culture through a lifetime of outstanding service.
Since the 1970s, James’ work has played a key role in the establishment and growth of South Australia’s film industry. Over his nearly 50-year career, he has worked on more than 146 productions, creating sonic innovations for such notable directors as Paul Cox, Rolf de Heer, Molly Reynolds, Darlene Johnson, and Scott Hicks. He has built an international reputation for his work. His early works include Hicks’ first film The Wanderer (1974), Breaker Morant (1980), Playing Beatty Bow (1986), and The Light Horsemen (1987). ), as well as the popular SA TV series McLeod’s Daughter. He also won an AACTA award for the SA films Bad Boy Bhabie, The Trucker, Ten Canoes, Red Dog, Hotel Mumbai, Oranges and Sunshine, to name a few He was also involved in the documentary “My Name is Gulpilil”.
James worked on SAFC’s staff in the 1980s and ’90s, first as a sound recordist in the documentary department and then mixing feature films at SAFC’s Hendon Studios, which became renowned as one of the country’s premier film mixing studios. I was in charge.
Throughout his career, James has won and been nominated for 26 prestigious international and Australian film awards, including Venice, Chicago, AFI, IF, ASSG and AACTA. He received the Flinders University Outstanding Alumni Award in 2017 and was also awarded an honorary doctorate and adjunct professorship at Griffith University for his contribution to Australian film sound. In 2022, SAFC recognized James among South Australia’s six longest-serving crew members at its 50th anniversary celebrations.
James Curry wins the Ruby Award. Photo courtesy of Arts SA James Currie’s Ruby Award ceremony. Photo courtesy of Arts SA
Multidisciplinary Indigenous filmmaker and artist Lila Berry has been named recipient of the Frank Ford Memorial Young Achievers Award, which recognizes the artistic or cultural achievements and contributions of young South Australian individuals. I got it.
A proud Yankunytjatjara woman, Lila was a member of one of three creative teams selected for Round 3 of SAFC’s Film Lab: New Voices Program and was selected for SAFC’s Indigenous Short Film Program He is one of seven writers to recently win the Short Film Award. Production funding is provided through Mercury’s Quiksilver Initiative.
Lila is also Carclew’s Indigenous Programs Manager and has been responsible for growing Carclew’s programs for, by, and with the community. She has won numerous awards including the 2019 Gladys Elphick Young Sister Rising Award, the 2021 South Australian Screen Awards Emerging Producer Award, and the 2021 Collaboration and Mentorship Residency at The Mill. I am.
Lila Berry wins Ruby Award Photo courtesy of Arts SA Lila Berry wins Ruby Award. Photo courtesy of Arts SA
Dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Gina Rings has been awarded the Stevie Gadrabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding artistic or cultural achievement or contribution by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in South Australia.
Gina, a Kokata and Mirning woman, is the inspirational principal dancer and choreographer of Bangarra Dance Theatre, who has performed extensively in Australia and internationally. In addition to her honors as a dancer, Gina also works as an artistic director collaborator, costume designer, set designer, director, producer, filmmaker, opportunity creator, reconciliation advocate, and consultant. She is the writer and producer of the SAFC-supported ABC iview series production Deadly Family Portraits: Crombie Crew and recently produced the short film Ngarrindjeri Ruwi – Kondili for Illuminate 2024.
Also recognized at the Ruby Awards was Isla’s Way, a feature documentary by SA writer/director Marion Pirowsky and SA producer Georgia Humphreys of Corner Table Productions, which will premiere at the 2023 Adelaide Film Festival. Nominated as an outstanding film or event at a film festival.
The Ruby Award winners were announced at an elegant awards ceremony held at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens on Friday 29 November. The annual Ruby Awards, named after the late arts patron Dame Ruby Lichfield, recognize artistic excellence, creative achievement, innovation, community involvement and inspirational leadership .
Click here for a complete list of winners.
