news | action | information | events | contact | search | news | action | information | events | contact | search |
key indigenous australian issues
| home | news lEverlyn steals the showBy Sophie Tedmanson, Entertainment reporter 7 November 2002 - As Everlyn Sampi tried on dozens of outfits yesterday for her first awards night, the 14-year-old lamented the need to wear shoes. "I hate high heels, I prefer to go barefoot – that's what I'm used to," the indigenous actor giggled while her great-grandfather, Paul Sampi, rolled his eyes. "But I love getting dressed up," Everlyn added, posing in front of the mirror. And that she did last night as the teenager, dressed in high heels and a Chinese cheongsam dress, attended the Lexus IF Awards in Sydney, where she was named Australia's best actress for her role in Phillip Noyce's stolen generation film Rabbit Proof Fence. "We knew that she was going to go far but we didn't think this far," said Mr Sampi, who donned a suit and proudly acted as Everlyn's date for the evening. Back at their home community of Djarindjin, in the north of Western Australia, the Sampi mob had gathered waiting for the news, as they cannot get SBS on their television and so could not watch last night's live telecast. "My gran told me before I left home: go and make us proud, Everlyn," the young actor said after practising her acceptance speech. The Lexus IF awards, run by IF Media, are known as the film industry's people's choice awards, as they are voted by the film-going public through surveys at local film festivals, the SBS Movie Show and the IF awards website. Despite the number of voters tripling to 40,000 in the past year, and the awards (now in their fourth year) fast becoming known as the alternative Australian film awards, IF Media managing director Jennifer Peedom said she did not want to compete with the Australian Film Institute awards, to be held in Melbourne on December 7. "Our agenda is to encourage the Australian public to go and see Australian films; that's what it's all about and that's what we have in common with the AFIs and the other awards," she said. "This is the event that the industry know as the one that's informal, a little irreverent and fun." Rabbit Proof Fence, Sampi's first acting experience, also received awards for best editing and best production design. Source: The Australian related links:
|
a new |
|
