Australian producer Jan Chapman will lead the jury of the 2010 Sydney Film Festival Official Competition, organisers announced today.
As Jury President, Chapman will convene a jury of five film industry luminaries, including Sundance Film Festival Director, John Cooper, Other jury members are yet to be announced.
The Sydney Film Festival's launched its Official Competition three years ago, to reward 'audacious, cutting-edge and courageous' filmmaking. The winning filmmaker receives the $60,000 Sydney Film Prize, Australia's richest cash award for film.
The Jury will comprise a total of five members, each of whom will attend SFF in June to view all 12 Competition films and assess their merits based on the selection criteria. The winner will be announced at the Festival's Closing Night Gala on Monday 14 June. The festival's Official Competition partner is Events NSW.
“The Sydney Film Festival was where I first saw films which transported me and inspired me to want to tell stories, and the inclusion of an Official Competition is a development in standing for the Festival. With selection criteria of 'audacious, cutting-edge and courageous filmmaking', it must attract work that has emotional power that goes beyond the usual treatment of a subject. I can't wait to see them,” Chapman said of her appointment.
The full program for the 57th Sydney Film Festival, 2-14 June 2010, will be announced on Wednesday 5 May.
