Sony Announces winners of the 2024 Catchlight Film Festival

Sony has announced the winners of the fourth annual Catchlight Film Festival, which recognises filmmakers from Australia and New Zealand that have chosen to tell their stories with a Sony camera. The 2024 Catchlight Film Festival judges, (Fiction) Mark Wareham, ACS, (Non-Fiction) Professor Rachel Landers, (Music Video) Sony Music, (Student Fiction) Simeon Bryan, and (Cinematic Social) Sony Australia, chose the five winning films from the remarkable finalist films in this year’s line-up.

Jun Yoon, Head of Sony Digital Imaging ANZ commented, “The Catchlight Film Festival was born to recognise and reward the brilliant filmmakers in Australia and New Zealand who choose to shoot on Sony. In our fourth year, we continue to uncover amazing new talent who are so gifted in telling stories that move people. We are very lucky this year to celebrate all our finalists and winners at the

the iconic White Bay Power Station in Sydney. Through a takeover of this incredibly unique location, we have also celebrated our 9th annual Alpha Awards (our photography competition), and to top it off, we will also have our inaugural open-to-the-public Tradeshow for our community to enjoy workshops and panel talks from over 30 creators and get hands-on with products at live demonstrations and experiences.”

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Fiction Winner  

Die Bully Die by Nick & Nathan Lacey 

Shot on: Sony CineAlta VENICE & Sony CineAlta BURANO  

Max meets his high-school bully, Adam, 17 years later, in a fancy restaurant where Max’s grudge against Adam begins to manifest in horrific ways. 

Non-Fiction Winner 

DAD by Jones Riley Eli 

Shot on: Sony Alpha 7S II, Sony Alpha 7S III & Sony Alpha 1 

A documentary featuring three children who talk about a family tragedy – when their dad was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Music Video Winner 

Queen of Sin by Cameron Zayec 

Shot on: Sony FX6  

Queen of Sin sits on a throne as guards bring in male sacrifices. One at a time the men present their offerings, hopefully in exchange for freedom. They bow down, then suffer her mighty fury. 

Student Fiction Winner 

The Great South by Ormsby Taniora 

Shot on: Sony FS5 

Two best friends must navigate the tough streets of South Auckland to buy a bottle of milk. 

Cinematic Social Winner 

Japan – Lost by Elliott Sauvage 

Shot on: Sony Alpha 7S III 

From Shinjuku to Shibuya, Kamakochi to Kyoto, this (very very) short film captures the essence of our 2 week long trip getting around Japan in the Summer of 2024. 

Special Laurels judged by Bonnie Elliott, ACS 

Best Cinematography in Fiction, supported by Videocraft 

For Joan by Micaela Osfield 

Best Cinematography in Non-Fiction, supported by VA Hire 

Making Revisions by Matt Deavin 

Best Cinematography in Music Video, supported by Lemac 

Bindi in the Dirt by Nick Sullivan 

Best Cinematography in Student Fiction, supported by Atomos 

When Dogs Go To Heaven by Riti Ramanujachari  

Best Cinematography in Cinematic Social, supported by Southern Cross Cameras 

Ground by Maharaj Krish

Best Sony Lens Work 

Sing Sings – Keepers of the culture by Arango Guerrero Mateo