Noddy wins Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay

The Cartel's short 'NODDY' has taken out the top three awards at this years ‘Peninsula Short Film Festival’

held on the Village Green in Rosebud. Shot by Paul Hughes, the

film was produced by Ann Murison and Ben Plazzer. The record crowd of over four thousand watched the film on Saturday night with celebrity Judges Actors Lachy Hulme, Michala Banas, Nadine Garner, Samuel Johnson, Andrew Mason the producer of Russell Crowe’s awardwinning film The Water Diviner and acclaimed director Fred Schepisi.

The contemporary magical realism comedy short tells the story of Mark Johnson, a professional Noddy, who has

spent the last decade standing behind politicians nodding, trying not to be noticed and blending into the

background. When he’s nominated for ‘Noddy of the Year’ he discovers that to be the best comes at a price - no

one notices him anymore! Ann Murison, who won best screenplay for the film, citied that the drama that

surrounded Tony Abbott on the weekend, who also appears in the film along with former PM Julia Gillard, was

very timely.

Ben Plazzer was honoured to receive the Best Direction award from the world famous director Fred Schepisi and

decided that the best move was to receive the award dramatically on one knee. He recently had

success with this debut feature film ‘The Heckler’ which won best ensemble at the LA Comedy Festival.

The evening was topped off by ‘Noddy’ being crowned best film, the most coveted award of the festival. Ben

Plazzer and Ann Murison accepted the award from Steve Bastoni the Festival Director and Founder. Ben said “as

we didn’t have speeches prepared we just thanked the crowd a thousand times”.