MEDIA RELEASE

4 NOVEMBER 2021

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCREEN AWARDS 2021 TO RECOGNISE INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE IN LIVE CELEBRATION GALA

Over 80 creatives and crew have been nominated in the South Australian Screen Awards 2021 (SASAs) which will be presented in a live Celebration Gala at Mercury Cinema on 3 December.  

The 23rd South Australian Screen Awards reflect the commitment of Mercury CX and our industry partners to showcasing and championing emerging creatives in our state. After another challenging year for our industry and world at large, we are looking forward to recognising and celebrating the incredible talent and resilience of the South Australian screen sector with a return to an in-person Gala Awards night at Mercury CX. 

With 82 nominees, these nominations celebrate South Australian key creatives and crews in 21 screen craft and genre award categories across over 35 short films, music videos, web series and games. 

Awards will be presented across 24 categories. Genre categories include drama, comedy, documentary, animation, web series, games and music video. Screen crafts are represented, including acting, hair and makeup, design, sound, music, editing, cinematography, writing, directing and producing. 

With total prizes valued at over $30,000 the SASAs celebrate the strength of South Australian screen industry and the importance of developing and promoting creative industries and emerging artists. 

Mercury CX CEO Karena Slaninka said "Congratulations to the 2021 nominees! When you acknowledge talent it encourages and cultivates the careers of creatives, creators and crew and in turn fuels the sustainability of our industry." 

"The South Australian Screen Awards reward and celebrate our growing pool of creators and artists who we hope will go on to create longer-form content and build businesses in their own state."  

"Getting a SASA means something. In each case, they have been nominated by industry professionals with national and international accolades who have judged and recognised the skills and talents on display. For the nominees and winners, these films are proof points for their future projects, and the recognition provides a stepping stone for building their careers" Slaninka said.  

Judges for the 2021 South Australian Screen Awards include celebrated filmmakers and actors, who between them have been recognised by the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, AATCAs, Logies, IF Awards and major film festivals including Sundance Film Festival. 

New to the lineup this year is the First Nations Talent Award, sponsored by the South Australian Film Corporation. 

"There's a steadily increasing pool of talented indigenous filmmakers from SA and it's fantastic that this new award recognises these emerging talents," Slaninka said. 

The City of Adelaide Mercury Award represents prestigious recognition to an individual for their contribution to the screen industry and will be announced on the night.  

"South Australia has a long tradition of producing talented creatives who go on to national and international success, and the City of Adelaide Mercury CX Award is a wonderful way of celebrating their achievements," Slaninka said. 

Additional major awards to be announced on the night include the Grand Jury Prize awarded by South Australian Film Corporation, the Carclew Young Filmmaker Award and the Emerging Producer award. 

"We are delighted to be able to bring the South Australian screen community together at an in-person event once again to celebrate the achievements of South Australia's screen industry artists and creators," said Slaninka. 

Tickets for the Gala Awards Ceremony and Sidewalk Soiree are on sale now.