Since 2001 Leanne Ridley has been the friendly face of the SAFC, greeting visitors, staff, tenants and the occasional Hollywood star from her position at the Reception desk.

This Monday 1 February officially marks Leanne's 20th year as SAFC Receptionist, having worked in the role from the agency's days at Hendon, through to its current location at Adelaide Studios in Glenside.

SAFC CEO Kate Croser said the SAFC was proud to celebrate such a major milestone.

"Leanne is a beloved member of SAFC staff, and an essential part of our day to day operations. As a real 'people person' with a passion for her work, she takes a genuine personal interest in her colleagues, Adelaide Studios tenants and clients, and everyone who walks through the door," she said.

"Combined with her decades of industry and agency knowledge, not to mention the fact that she knows absolutely everyone there is to know, Leanne is an invaluable part of the SAFC team. We thank her for her 20 years of service, and look forward to many more," she said.

Image: Leanne Ridley, photo by Claudio Raschella.

Two SA filmmakers have showcased their talents in virtual production on the world stage this week, as finalists in the first Unreal Engine Short Film Challenge.

Bree Whitford Smith and Lisa Bishop were named among 16 finalists this week in the Australia-wide challenge, presented by Epic Games together with the SAFC and other state screen agencies.

The competition saw more than 1,800 aspiring and seasoned artists and filmmakers from all across Australia take part in two weeks of free online training in Unreal Engine, through which they learned the latest techniques in real-time animation and virtual production, from which they created short film pitches. 

Sixteen of the top pitches were then selected as finalists and given $20,000 to produce a short film in six weeks. Whitford Smith was successful with Time Writers, which she produced and co-wrote with SA practitioner Richard Coburn, who also directed. Bishop was successful with Happy Anniversary, which she produced and co-wrote with SA practitioner Gareth Wilkes, who also directed.

Of the final shorts, Cassini Logs, submitted by NSW creatives, was selected as the top film receiving a $50,000 grand prize.

"The level of production quality achieved in these shorts is remarkable considering the tight six-week turnaround," said Connie Kennedy, Head of Los Angeles Lab, Epic Games.

To find out more, and view the films, click here.

Image: SA filmmakers Bree Whitford Smith and Lisa Bishop.

A new screen industry mentorship program from the SAFC and Mercury CX has been a resounding success, with many participating SA crew securing paid work as a result.

Launched last year as part of the SAFC's raft of COVID support initiatives, the SAFC Mercury CX Master/Apprentice Mentorship Program saw 13 local crew matched with SA Heads of Department (HODs) for professional mentoring across various areas of screen production including camera/lighting, sound, costume, locations and more.

Some of the many success stories from the program include:

● With skills learned through on-the-job mentoring from DOP Brad Lanyon, Assistant Director Anastasia Comelli secured work experience on Joel Edgerton feature film The Unknown Man, later resulting in paid work as an Additional AD.

● Lucy Gale was hired full time as Art Department Coordinator on Stan Original Film A Sunburnt Christmas through her mentorship with HOD Robert Webb, and later worked on feature film Gold. 

● Through a mentorship with HOD Chris Daniels, Aden Beaver secured a full-time position managing data for the production of A Sunburnt Christmas.

● HOD Jules Wurm mentored camera operator Catalina Moller, who secured a paid job as 2nd Camera Assistant B Camera on A Sunburnt Christmas.

● Location manager Melanie Hayward secured paid work on two TVCs during her mentorship with HOD Jesse Goninon, as well as work experience as Assistant Location Manager on feature film The Unknown Man.

● Rebecca Taylor secured work on corporate and short films with David Tang and Red Fox Films through her mentorship with HOD Rodney Bolton, and went on to work on feature film The Unknown Man as Video Split Operator.

● Carol Lawton worked as 2nd Assistant Accountant on A Sunburnt Christmas through her mentorship with HOD Mark Kraus.

Mentor/mentee partnerships also included HOD Manda Webber and Marin Rymer (Continuity), HOD Vicki Sugars and Elena Carapetis (Script Supervision), HOD David Scarborough and Lauren Well Jones (Editor), HOD Simon Tait and Grace Miles (Art Department), HOD Laurie Chlanda and Adam Galea (Sound), HOD Michael Darren and Jace Hooper (Sound Post).

As well as supporting skills enhancement and career pathways for advancing crew, the Master/Apprentice Mentorship Program created paid opportunities for SA HODs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By developing connections between established and emerging crew, the program has begun to build a framework to underpin the expansion of below-the-line talent, essential to the ongoing growth and sustainability of the screen industry in South Australia.

Image: Some of the participants in the 2020 Master Apprentice program.

● SA filmed and produced ABC comedy drama series Aftertaste from Adelaide Studios based Closer Productions has been selected to participate in the Berlinale Series Market Selects at this year's Berlin Film Festival. Aftertaste is the only Australian project on the newly-created program, which highlights projects with strong commercial potential, and also features series from the UK, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia and Spain. Aftertaste premieres on ABC TV and iview on Wednesday 3 February at 9pm. Read more

● The South Australian screen industry won big at the 2020 Ruby Awards in December, with legendary SA filmmaking duo Scott Hicks and Kerry Heysen AM taking home the Premier’s Award for Lifetime Achievement. SAFC Disability Screen Strategy Executive Gaelle Mellis won the Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award for individual contribution to community arts and cultural development. Adelaide Studios based Closer Productions won the award for Best Work, Event or Project for Young People for drama series The Hunting. Read more

● KOJO Studios has appointed post production and visual effects executive Lauren Van Rensburg to the role of Head of Post Production and VFX. Read more

Image: Erik Thomson and Natalie Abbott in Aftertaste, image courtesy ABC.