Australians in Film is excited to announce that applications are now open for the ninth annual Heath Ledger Scholarship.
Established in memory of Australian actor Heath Ledger, the prize has become an indelible fixture in the industry landscape and an incredible opportunity for emerging Australian actors aged between 18-35 years, who shows potential for great career longevity.
Commenting on the significance of the scholarship for the Ledger family, AiF Board member and Heath’s sister Kate Ledger, says, “The scholarship is so very close to all our hearts. Seeing the struggles that Heath went through in making that transition with his international career and knowing the generosity of spirit he always showed, it’s really important to us that we continue the legacy, that started really in an unofficial way with Heath helping out his fellow Aussie actors.”
AiF President Kate Marks says the scholarship provides an invaluable support for up-and-coming actors just starting out in their careers, “Over the past nine years, the scholarship has become widely recognized and highly regarded as an indicator of emerging Australian acting talent. Each year the judges are looking for a unique quality in an Australian actor who has the potential for real career longevity not just at home in Australia, but internationally. It takes time for a great actor to find that perfect role. AiF wants to support actors in their journey to find that role.”
“The scholarship is evolving and we really want to capture the legendary generosity of Heath. This year we will be offering more exciting prizes to make the scholarship even more rewarding for a young actor coming to Los Angeles.”
The recipient this year will receive US$10,000, plus two Qantas return airfares to Los Angeles with more prizes announced in the coming weeks. Over a quarter of a million dollars has been given out since the scholarship began.
Support for the prize has always been strong, with benefactors of the program include the Ledger family, Michelle Williams, Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, Rose Byrne, Vince Vaughn, Liam Hemsworth, Alex O'Loughlin, Deborra-Lee Furness, Phillip Noyce, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gregor Jordan, Nicole Kidman and The Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Last year's winner Ashleigh Cummings will be seen in the upcoming feature Pork Pie, to be released by Studiocanal on 4th May in Australia. Other past winners include Logie Award winning actor Anna McGahan, who has just been announced to star in the remark of the iconic Picnic at Hanging Rock, Ryan Corr (upcoming Mary Magdalene, The Water Diviner, Holding the Man), James Mackay (The Dressmaker, Hacksaw Ridge upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) and Bella Heathcote (Fifty Shades Darker, Dark Shadows, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).
As in previous years, the 2017 judging panel will comprise influential actors, casting agents and industry executives. Past judges have included actors Toni Collette, Abbie Cornish, Colin Farrell, Miranda Otto, Vince Vaughn, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Rachel Griffiths, Ben Mendelsohn and Wes Bentley, directors Gregor Jordan, Catherine Hardwicke, Phillip Noyce and Kieran Darcy-Smith, producer Basil Iwanyk, Head of Casting at Paramount Joseph Middleton, Head of Casting at DreamWorks Leslee Feldman, talent manager Will Ward, casting directors Nikki Barrett, Sherry Thomas, Laray Mayfield, talent agent Steve Alexander, Vice President of Feature Casting at Walt Disney Studios Randi Hiller, and Warner Bros. President of Production Greg Silverman.
Applications will close on the date of Heath Ledgers birthday, April 4th 2017 and applicants can apply here.
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