Judging 2019 film entries underway

Judging has commenced for the 2019 Mud and Saltwater Short Film Fest entries 🙂 The Film Fest is super lucky to have four exceptional judges – Paul Bell, Mark Jones, Neil Turner and Dr Michael McCall. 

Paul Bell, a Mud & Saltwater Film Fest judge.

Originally from southwest WA, Paul Bell moved to Broome in 1996. He joined David Batty of Rebel Films working throughout the Kimberley on documentary and educational projects. In 2001, Paul was accepted into AFTRS in Sydney to study cinematography in documentary, returning to establish his own production company, Feral Films.

Over the last decade Paul has worked around the world as a freelance director, cameraman and editor for Lonely Planet TV, National Geographic, Discovery, Eurosport, ABC, SBS and CAAMA Television. Highlights include working with the United Nations recording traditional knowledge of climate change with indigenous peoples and travelling to the vast continent of Antarctica.

Awards include Best International Documentary for Case 442 at the International Cherokee Film Festival in Toronto 2007 and the Best International Short Documentary for Jarlmadangah: Our Dream at the same festival in 2008. Paul’s short documentary, Walking on Country with Spirits (part of the UNU’s Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Change Video Brief Initiative) received the Special Jury Award at the Green Screen International Film Festival in Vancouver, 2011.

Mud & Saltwater judge Mark Jones (standing).

At the tender age of 23, Mark Jones had an epiphany when filming with legendary Australian filmmaker, Malcolm Douglas. He realised that he loved the camera and the stories it could tell, and he fell in love with the Kimberley, its ruggedness, its people and deep heritage.

Mark went on to make 17 films with Malcolm in those formative years, and that experience led to opportunities in the adventure, wildlife and ethnographic genres. It has allowed him to explore his 3 great passions, ‘Country’, its original people and the Cultural landscapes produced by the two.

Mark has constantly sought new experiences in the industry to extend his range since those early days with Malcolm. He has shot, Edited, Directed and Written across platforms both individually and in collaboration, with some of the greats of Australian screen including George Negus. It is these relationships and their teachings which Mark holds very dear.

This unorthodox ‘apprenticeship’ is now paying dividends for Mark. He has worked with many production houses around the world (NHK – Japan, ABC – US, BBC etc) to showcase the Kimberley, one of the last great Cultural landscapes, to the big and small screen.

Paul Bell, Neil Turner and Mark Jones judging the 2015 Mud & Saltwater entries (L to R).

Neil Turner has been the manager of Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media (PAKAM) since 1996. Before that he worked on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands for 11 years as Coordinator of Ernabella Video Television and Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Media.

Neil authored the 1998 National Report on the Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme and worked on establishing the Indigenous Community Television and National Indigenous Television services. Neil received the Mr McKenzie Award for his contribution to remote Indigenous television in 2014. Currently serves as Secretary on the Board of ICTV. Neil is also an incredible animator, running workshops with Indigenous people that have resulted in award winning films such as Whirlpool and Killing of the Bilikin Brothers (PAKAM Animation Crew).

Dr Michael McCall, judge of Mud & Saltwater Film Fest.

Dr Michael McCall has worked in a professional capacity as a director, actor, producer, playwright, dramaturg, script editor, arts advocate and educator in stage, screen and arts education in Australia since 2002.

Michael is a graduate of Curtin University, with a Bachelor of Arts (English), and Honours in Performance Studies. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) Acting Course. He has completed a Masters in screen directing and writing at the WA Screen Academy, and has a PhD in Performing Arts from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Michael is currently the Head of Film and Theatre at University of Notre Dame Fremantle, and regularly teaches and directs into the WAAPA Acting and Musical Theatre degrees, along with working for NIDA Open and Bell Shakespeare.