Roma Hope D’Arrietta Wins at WOW

Australian director Roma Hope D’Arrietta’s short film Moeder won both Best Australian Documentary and the opening night People’s Choice awards at the World of Women film festival in Sydney last night.

 

Currently residing in New York City and working with producer Emma Thompson-McLeod, the emerging team’s short film has recently screened in DOC NYC in the US, EDIN DOCS (part of the Edinburgh Festival UK) and Aesthetica in York, UK. The film is currently screening at POW (Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival), followed by WAM (Women, Action & The Media Film Festival) in Boston, US.

 

WOW festival director Tamara Popper said: “The judges, Nyin Cameron and I all have great admiration for Moeder.  The audience on obviously felt the same way about Roma's 'moving and delicate telling of her mother's story with such resonating beauty’ (judges comments).”

 

The pair took away a package of prizes including;

$5,000 worth of post-production from Spectrum Films, Fox Sudios

$1500 legal advice from TressCox Lawyers, 

The use of a meeting room at AFTRS (Australian Film & Television School)

An associate membership to the Australian Cinematographer’s Society 

An annual membership to Women in Film & Television NSW

 

It is however the kudos earned by the debut team (from both industry judges and the audience) that has cemented their already solid path as filmmakers to watch.

 

Living in the US D’Arrietta and Thompson-McLeod weren’t able to accept the award but said their friends and family assured them of film’s success.

 

“We were ecstatic to hear that they were in fact not lying,” D’Arrietta said. “Our two-man production team, with the help of our talented and tireless Editor Samuel Raftl, really did make something that people responded to which is the best honor of all. We are thrilled to receive the prizes and look forward to using them on future projects.”

 

For more information, please visit: www.moederthefilm.com  www.wift.org/wow