Sweet As
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{use Australian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sweet As
| image = Sweet_as.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| director = Jub Clerc
| producer = Liz Kearney
| writer = Jub Clerc
Steve Rodgers
| starring = Shantae Barnes-Cowan
Mark Coles Smith
| music =
| cinematography = Katie Milwright
| editing = Katie Flaxman
| studio = Arenamedia
| distributor = Roadshow Films
| released = {{Film date|2022|08|13|Melbourne|df=y}}
| runtime = 87 minutes
| country = Australia
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Sweet As is a 2022 Australian coming-of-age drama film, directed by Jub Clerc, starring Shantae Barnes-Cowan and Mark Coles Smith.
Synopsis
Murra, an Aboriginal Australian girl from a troubled family, discovers a passion for photography while participating in a youth retreat.
Cast
- Shantae Barnes-Cowan as Murra
- Mark Coles Smith as Ian, Murra's uncle
- Ngaire Pigram as Grace, Murra's mother
- Tasma Walton as Mitch, group leader
- Carlos Sanson, Jr. as Fernando, photographer teaching the group
- Pedrea Jackson as Elvis
- Mikayla Levy as Kylie
- Andrew Wallace as Sean
- Mark Cometti as Simmo
Production
Sweet As was directed by Jub Clerc.{{cite web| first=Liz| last=Hobday| url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/pilbara-growing-up-film-sweet-as-premieres-c-7865365| title=Pilbara growing-up film Sweet As premieres"| website=Perth Now|date= August 13, 2022}} It was written by Clerc and Steve Rodgers, and produced by Liz Kearney.{{cite web | title=It's Sweet As – Jub Clerc's debut feature green lit for production | website=Screen Australia | date=2020 | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2020/09-15-sweet-as-green-lit-for-production | access-date=29 August 2024}}
It is the first Western Australian feature film directed by an Indigenous Australian person,{{cite interview |first=Jub |last=Clerc| interviewer-first=Amanda| interviewer-last =Haskard| title=The power of the camera: Jub Clerc, director of Sweet As | website=ACMI | date=20 February 2023 | url=https://www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-ideas/interview-jub-clerc/ | access-date=28 August 2024}} and the film was shot on location in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Screen Australia provided major funding investment, with additional funding coming from Screenwest and Lotterywest, and support from the Western Australian Regional Film Fund Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund and Film Victoria.
Release and festival screenings
The film premiered on 13 August 2022 at the Melbourne International Film Festival,{{cite web| author=George, Sandy |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/neptune-frost-sweet-as-win-new-melbourne-film-festival-awards/5173624.article |title='Neptune Frost', 'Sweet As' win new Melbourne film festival awards"| website=Screen Daily|date= August 22, 2022}} and had its international premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022.{{cite web| first=Christian |last=Zilko| url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/09/tiff-2022-peoples-choice-award-winners-list-1234763848/ |title='The Fabelmans' Wins TIFF 2022 People's Choice Award"| website= IndieWire|date= September 18, 2022}}
Screening at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023, the film took home the Crystal Bear.{{cite web | title=Berlin prizes for 'Sweet As', 'The Survival of Kindness', 'Marungka tjalatjunu' | website=IF Magazine | date=27 February 2023 | url=https://if.com.au/berlin-prizes-for-sweet-as-survival-of-kindness-marungka-tjalatjunu/ | access-date=31 March 2023}} In March 2023 it screened at the Birrarangga Film Festival in Melbourne.{{cite web | last=Gbogbo | first=Mawunyo | title=The Birrarangga Film Festival has been Sweet As with final film screening on Tuesday night | website=ABC News |publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=28 March 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-28/birrarangga-film-festival-wrap-sweet-as-muru/102152960 | access-date=31 March 2023}}
Distribution rights for Australia and New Zealand were acquired by Roadshow Films,{{cite web | last=Clarke | first=Rhiannon | title=Jub Clerc's debut feature Sweet As snapped up by Australian movie powerhouse firm | website=National Indigenous Times | date=30 August 2022 | url=https://nit.com.au/30-08-2022/3772/jub-clerks-debut-feature-sweet-as-snapped-up-by-australian-movie-powerhouse-firm | access-date=29 August 2024}} and Sweet As was released in Australian cinemas from 1 June 2023.{{cite web | title=Sweet As – Behind the Scenes | website=Screen Australia | date=26 May 2023 | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/screen-news/2023/05-26-sweet-as-behind-the-scenes | access-date=29 August 2024}} It was subsequently made available on streaming services Binge, Foxtel, and Amazon Prime Video.{{cite web | title=Where to watch streaming and online in Australia | website=Flicks.com.au | url=https://www.flicks.com.au/movie/sweet-as/ | access-date=29 August 2024}}
The film was selected in country focus section "Best of Contemporary Australian Cinema" at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival held from 5 December to 12 December 2023.{{cite web|url=https://kiff.in/archive/2023/official-selection/best-of-contemporary-australian-cinema |title= Best of Contemporary Australian Cinema |website= Kolkata International Film Festival |date=30 November 2023|access-date=30 November 2023|language=en}}
Awards and nominations
- 2022: Winner, Innovation Award, Melbourne International Film Festival, for Sweet As
- 2022: Winner, NETPAC Award for best film from the Asia/Pacific region, Toronto International Film Festival, for best film from the Asia/Pacific region, for Sweet As
- 2022: Nominated, Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Youth Film, for Sweet As{{cite web | title=Sweet As | website=Asia Pacific Screen Awards | date=13 October 2022 | url=https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/sweet-as | access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite web | last=Keast | first=Jackie | title='Sweet As', 'Delikado' nominated for Asia Pacific Screen Awards | website=IF Magazine | date=12 October 2022 | url=https://if.com.au/sweet-as-delikado-nominated-for-asia-pacific-screen-awards/ | access-date=29 August 2024}}
- 2023: Winner, Crystal Bear in the Generation Kplus section, 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, for Sweet As{{cite web | title=Berlin prizes for 'Sweet As', 'The Survival of Kindness', 'Marungka tjalatjunu' | website=IF Magazine | date=27 February 2023 | url=https://if.com.au/berlin-prizes-for-sweet-as-survival-of-kindness-marungka-tjalatjunu/ | access-date=31 March 2023}}{{cite web | last=Gbogbo | first=Mawunyo | title=The Birrarangga Film Festival has been Sweet As with final film screening on Tuesday night | website=ABC News |publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=28 March 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-28/birrarangga-film-festival-wrap-sweet-as-muru/102152960 | access-date=31 March 2023}}
- 2023: Nominated, Best Direction in a Debut Feature Film at the ADG Awards, for Sweet As{{cite web | title=AWARDS | website=HOME | date=4 July 2023 | url=https://adg.org.au/awards-2023 | access-date=29 August 2024}}
- 2024: Nominated, AACTA Award for Best Direction at the 13th AACTA Awards, for Sweet As{{cite web | title=Winners & Nominees | website=AACTA | url=https://www.aacta.org/aacta-awards/winners-and-nominees/2024-aacta-awards/ | access-date=29 August 2024}}
References
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