Screen Music Awards honours Tropfest founder John Polson

The Screen Music Awards on December 9 is honouring Sydney film maker, actor and Tropfest founder and Director John Polson with its International Achievement Award.

APRA AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle announced, “The International Achievement Award is the highest honour that the APRA board and the AGSC (the Australian Guild of Screen Composers) can bestow on an individual. John Polson’s life work as a director and a force for growth and innovation in the film industry has been compelling, inspiring and groundbreaking. He has in a visionary and socially enterprising way, created opportunities for emerging film-makers and therefore for screen composers and it is privilege to recognise and acknowledge his contribution with this award.”

Polson’s first feature film Swimfan (2002) opened at #1 spot at the US box office. His third film Hide And Seek (2005), starring Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning, also opened at top spot in the US. He continued as director of TV shows as The Mentalist, The Good Wife and Elementary. Tropfest continues to expand globally, to the United States (where it drew 10,000 when it bowed last June) Malaysia, New Zealand and Arabia.

Polson said, “It is a huge honour to accept this Award. I feel truly humbled to have the APRA AMCOS board of publisher and writer directors recognize my work in this way. “I’d like to thank APRA AMCOS for their ongoing support of Tropfest and of the film and television industry in general. With their support, we as an industry can continue to push boundaries, foster creativity and develop an exciting future for ourselves.”

For the first time, film and music fans can attend the Screen Awards at the State Theatre, for $70 a head. Presenters include Rob Carlton, Matt Day, Alex Doomadgee and producer Helen Bowden. Performers include singer Emma Birdsall and Vivid Sydney Creative Advisor Ignatius Jones, who in another life fronted titillating rock band Jimmy and the Boys. Emmy winning composer Ashley Irwin also conducts an orchestra showcasing some nominated pieces.