Alex Nesic of Mentone has been awarded the 2022 North Bellarine Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker Award for his film ‘Unsaid’.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Potato Shed in Drysdale on November 19.
Alex is an emerging filmmaker based in Melbourne and since finding out his mother was an actor in China, he knew he wanted to work in the creative arts. As a storyteller, Alex is interested in explorations of diversity, fringe societies and familial connections. He is currently completing his master’s degree of Film and Television at the Victorian College of the Arts.
“After numerous production delays and the stressful uncertainty of filming between COVID-related lockdowns, the fact that ‘Unsaid’ was even completed is a testament to the labour of love conducted by its cast and crew,” Alex said.
“This is an incredibly personal story inspired by events in my childhood. I hope that this film will promote even the slightest glimmer of understanding during an era where issues of miscommunication and division seem almost insurmountable.”
‘Unsaid’ tells the story of six-year-old Oscar who struggles to find a connection with his multicultural family when relatives from Serbia move into his crowded suburban home.
Oscar’s inability to express himself, especially to his young and forthright cousin Mila, tears his family apart until he links the house together with make-shift tin can telephones that translate the various languages spoken in the home and brings the family back together.
“The Emerging Filmmaker Award has been identifying talented young filmmakers and screening their work since it was established in 2019,” festival chair Bill Lussier said.
“There are many exciting young filmmakers just starting out and by recognising their work, we hope to inspire them to continue working to fulfill their dreams.”
Information about the North Bellarine Film Festival and the Emerging Filmmaker Award is available at northbellarinefilmfestival.org.
