A young Sydney filmmaker who spent time with East Timor rebel leader Alfredo Reinado as he waged a battle against government forces has won the top film prize at this year's Spirit Of Youth Awards (SOYA).Rebecca Parker, 26, is finishing work on Rebel Soldier, a full-length documentary about East Timor's short but turbulent history.
Parker filmed the charismatic rebel leader as he led his rebellion during 2006.
Reinado was killed by guards in February this year during an attack that saw President Jose Ramos Horta shot and critically wounded in the capital, Dili.
"I have had to carry the burden of the project myself including doing the camera, lighting, sound [and] filming in the jungle with the rebel soldiers in precarious situations," Parker said.
She is among six young Australians and a group of young rockers who walked away last night with $10,000 in cash, airline tickets and year-long mentorships from leaders in their fields.
The winners were among 1,600 artists who submitted more than 10,000 works in the award categories of film, music, fashion, photography, industrial and object design, visual art and visual communications.
The awards, in their fifth year, accept work from artists aged 30 and younger.
Industry heavyweights including fashion designer Carla Zampatti, actor Rachel Ward and television and radio presenter Adam Spencer were among the many to walk the red carpet at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art.
They were treated to a music performance by Melbourne-based music winner My Disco - comprised of band members Ben Andrews, Rohan Rebeiro and Liam Andrews, all aged 29 and who will be mentored by music producer Scott Horscroft.
The band has toured the world for the past five years and sees the award as a leg up.
"We have much more planned with the aid of SOYA," the band said.
"No rest!"(abc.net)
Parker filmed the charismatic rebel leader as he led his rebellion during 2006.
Reinado was killed by guards in February this year during an attack that saw President Jose Ramos Horta shot and critically wounded in the capital, Dili.
"I have had to carry the burden of the project myself including doing the camera, lighting, sound [and] filming in the jungle with the rebel soldiers in precarious situations," Parker said.
She is among six young Australians and a group of young rockers who walked away last night with $10,000 in cash, airline tickets and year-long mentorships from leaders in their fields.
The winners were among 1,600 artists who submitted more than 10,000 works in the award categories of film, music, fashion, photography, industrial and object design, visual art and visual communications.
The awards, in their fifth year, accept work from artists aged 30 and younger.
Industry heavyweights including fashion designer Carla Zampatti, actor Rachel Ward and television and radio presenter Adam Spencer were among the many to walk the red carpet at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art.
They were treated to a music performance by Melbourne-based music winner My Disco - comprised of band members Ben Andrews, Rohan Rebeiro and Liam Andrews, all aged 29 and who will be mentored by music producer Scott Horscroft.
The band has toured the world for the past five years and sees the award as a leg up.
"We have much more planned with the aid of SOYA," the band said.
"No rest!"(abc.net)
PIC Rebecca Parker: Winner of a Spirit Of Youth award. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)
