Young Filmmaker's Debut on DVD

Master of Film and Digital Image candidate at SCA, Julian Shaw will enjoy a nationwide DVD release of his debut film Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story on August 4 through Umbrella Entertainment. Shaw began work on the film at the age of 16 – negotiating an ‘independent learning contract’ with his high school that would allow him to attend his final year for two days a week. Darling! has gone on to win Shaw the prestigious Inside Film Independent Spirit Award locally, but the breakout doco has proved equally popular overseas. The feature doco was released theatrically in South Africa, screened on US free-to-air television and premiered at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival, where it was placed as runner-up in the Panorama Audience Awards, voted on by some 20,000 movie goers.

At the age of just 22, Shaw will also enjoy the release of his first book this year, the photonovel Modern Odysseus, featuring Colin Friels. “It is a big year for me, and I am just so happy that Australians can finally see and own Darling! It was the largest labour of love and adventure of my life, and it’s been touching how people have embraced it around the world. Despite the South African subject, this is in every way a story told with an Australian voice.” Shaw completed the film without the assistance of a film institution. “I have just followed my heart since leaving school and done my own thing, but now that I’m a part of Sydney University I couldn’t be more excited about creating my future projects in this environment.”

Image: Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story