Geeta Film Still courtesy of Screenwave International Film Festival

Screenwave International Film Festival (SWIFF) is thrilled to announce Emma Macey-Storch, as the winner of the inaugural Ferguson Film Prize. The director of the documentary Geeta will receive a $3000 personal cash prize, a trophy, and an official accreditation. Emma Macey-Storch is an award-winning director and producer, having worked across documentary, animation, and fiction on projects with a social justice focus. Her sophomore feature documentary, Geeta, is both a personal tale of a mother fighting for her daughter’s destiny and a powerful call to action against domestic violence. After surviving a malicious acid attack at the hands of her husband, leaving both Geeta and her daughter, Neetu, badly injured, both women are left to grapple with poverty and social ostracism. But they have also joined a burgeoning social justice movement working to end violence against women, catapulting Geeta onto a global stage, as co-founder of a local activist movement Sheroes, and in her fight for law reform and justice.

David Horsley, co-director of SWIFF explained that this year, SWIFF, in partnership with the family of acclaimed actress Kate Ferguson, has presented a new national film prize, celebrating Australian fiction or non-fiction feature film directors that add a new, distinct voice to Australia’s national film identity. Horsley said that The Ferguson Film Prize is SWIFF’s first feature film award recognising captivating, daring, and ambitious storytellers directing their debut or sophomore feature films, and have been included in SWIFF’s Official Selection for the current year. Emma Macey-Storch was selected by the esteemed Jury, including acclaimed Australian director Kriv Stenders, Sydney Film Prize-winning documentarian Sascha Ettinger-Epstein, ABC News Breakfast’s film critic Zak Hepburn, and Australian actress Bonnie Ferguson.
“Supporting Australian film runs in our blood as a festival – and that starts with supporting Australian filmmakers. We are thrilled with the Jury’s decision to award the inaugural Ferguson Film Prize to Emma Macey-Storch and honoured to carry on the legacy of Kate Ferguson.” Horsley commented.