Thesis
"Creativity is a space without edges, without limitation, without a
full-stop...true and meaningful creativity is dangerous...it happens in the
shadows, in those cracks between the walls...you feel that nameless expanse
around you in order to possess the confidence to explore it...and then
gradually you give it a form, a name, a structure...and its thrilling..." Says Ben Ferris - Director
Christina Andreef
After 7 years of university film studies, Christina Andreef just craved to get behind the camera. She learnt the ropes as assistant to Director, Jane Campion on “Sweetie”, “An Angel At My Table” and “The Piano”, and then wrote and directed three prize-winning shorts of her own:- "Excursion To The Bridge of Friendship” (In official selection in Sundance & Cannes), "The Gap" (Sundance & Telluride) and "Shooting The Breeze” (Sundance & Berlin).
She followed with her first feature film "Soft Fruit” in 2000. “Soft Fruit” won the FIPRESCI International Critics’ Prize in Spain and screened in Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000. It was nominated for 7 AFI Awards. She has recently written a screenplay adaptation of Nikki Gemmell’s novel, “Shiver”, which she will direct for the screen.
Ben Ferris
Ben Ferris, Director was a founding member of the UBS Film School and remained Director until 2004. In 2004 he became a founding member of the Sydney Film School where he is currently the Director.
Described by one film critic as a “great film stylist like David Cronenberg, Michael Mann and Stanley Kubrick” Ben is a film writer / director with production company Artemis Projects.
A pioneer of the global resurgence in “one take” cinema, Ben’s film “The Kitchen” screened alongside “Russian Ark” at the Inaugural One Take Film Festival held in Zagreb, Croatia in 2003. In 2004 he went on to win the Grand Prix at the same festival for his film “Ascension”. In 2006 he was invited back as an international jury member.
His film “The Kitchen”, which also screened at the prestigious L’Etrange Film Festival in Paris in 2004, attracted international critical acclaim by winning the Grand Prix at the Inaugural Akira Kurosawa Memorial Short Film Festival held in Tokyo in 2005. It was selected for the 20th Singapore International Film Festival in April 2007. “The Kitchen” has since had a theatrical release in Tokyo and worldwide DVD distribution.
In his capacity as Executive Director of Sydney Film School he has also Executive Produced a host of award-winning student short films and documentaries, and most recently the Australian feature film “Three Blind Mice” directed by Matthew Newton.
Ben’s latest project is “Penelope”, his first feature film as writer / director. “Penelope” is a co-production between Artemis Projects in Australia and Focus Media in Croatia, and is the first co-production between the two countries. It will be released in Australia in late 2010.
He is currently studying a PhD by Research in Classics at the University of Sydney.
