Local film maker Neville Hiatt is still buzzing after his short film F.O.A. was recently announced as a winner of the NOVA Employment Australian Choice Award at the Melbourne screening of the Focus On Ability Film Festival.
Judged by the staff of the festivals major sponsor Nova Employment, it’s Neville’s first award for film.
Gippsland was well represented at this years festival with multiple local films screened at the multi hour event at Crown Casino on Tuesday, October 7.
It’s Neville’s third year of entering the Focus On Ability Film Festival.
In previous years he created a short film for both the documentary and open categories.
This year he focused all his creative energy into his first stop motion film in the Australian open category.
His film F.O.A. is a feast for the eyes and the ears as the theme of the festival of focusing on abilities rather than disabilities gently tugs at the heart strings until tears are sliding down your cheeks.
It’s a nervous wait now until the red carpet awards day in Sydney on November 16 where all the major prizes will be announced.
In the meantime he isn’t letting all he has endured in the past three years stop him from planning his first feature film.
F.O.A. was also selected as a nominee in the 2025 NanoCon International Film Festival in Longview, WA, United States.
There is a special screening of Neville’s award winning short film F.O.A. before the 10am and 2pm movie at the Paynesville Library tonight (Friday, October 17) – contact the Paynesville library to reserve your seat.
