Sweet As Explained

Sweet As is a 2022 Australian coming-of-age drama film, directed by Jub Clerc, starring Shantae Barnes-Cowan and Mark Coles Smith.

Synopsis

Murra, an Aboriginal Australian girl from a troubled family, discovers a passion for photography while participating in a youth retreat.

Cast

• Shantae Barnes-Cowan as Murra
• Mark Coles Smith as Ian, Murra's uncle
• Ngaire Pigram as Grace, Murra's mother
• Tasma Walton as Mitch, group leader
• Carlos Sanson, Jr. as Fernando, photographer teaching the group
• Pedrea Jackson as Elvis
• Mikayla Levy as Kylie
• Andrew Wallace as Sean
• Mark Cometti as Simmo

Production

Sweet As was directed by Jub Clerc.^[1] It was written by Clerc and Steve Rodgers, and produced by Liz Kearney.^[2]

It is the first Western Australian feature film directed by an Indigenous Australian person,^[3] and the film was shot on location in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.^[2]

Screen Australia provided major funding investment, with additional funding coming from Screenwest and Lotterywest, and support from the Western Australian Regional Film Fund Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund and Film Victoria.^[2]

Release and festival screenings

The film premiered on 13 August 2022 at the Melbourne International Film Festival,^[4] and had its international premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022.^[5]

Screening at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023, the film took home the Crystal Bear.^[6] In March 2023 it screened at the Birrarangga Film Festival in Melbourne.^[7]

Distribution rights for Australia and New Zealand were acquired by Roadshow Films,^[8] and Sweet As was released in Australian cinemas from 1 June 2023.^[9] It was subsequently made available on streaming services Binge, Foxtel, and Amazon Prime Video.^[10]

The film was selected in country focus section "Best of Contemporary Australian Cinema" at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival held from 5 December to 12 December 2023.^[11]

Awards and nominations

• 2022: Winner, Innovation Award, Melbourne International Film Festival, for Sweet As^[4]
• 2022: Winner, NETPAC Award for best film from the Asia/Pacific region, Toronto International Film Festival, for best film from the Asia/Pacific region, for Sweet As^[5]
• 2022: Nominated, Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Youth Film, for Sweet As^{[12] [13]}
• 2023: Winner, Crystal Bear in the Generation Kplus section, 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, for Sweet As^{[14] [15]}
• 2023: Nominated, Best Direction in a Debut Feature Film at the ADG Awards, for Sweet As^[16]
• 2024: Nominated, AACTA Award for Best Direction at the 13th AACTA Awards, for Sweet As^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Liz. Hobday. Pilbara growing-up film Sweet As premieres". Perth Now. August 13, 2022.
2. Web site: It’s Sweet As – Jub Clerc’s debut feature green lit for production . . 2020 . 29 August 2024.
3. Jub . Clerc. Amanda. Haskard. The power of the camera: Jub Clerc, director of Sweet As . . 20 February 2023 . 28 August 2024.
4. Web site: George, Sandy . 'Neptune Frost', 'Sweet As' win new Melbourne film festival awards". Screen Daily. August 22, 2022.
5. Web site: Christian . Zilko. 'The Fabelmans' Wins TIFF 2022 People's Choice Award". IndieWire. September 18, 2022.
6. Web site: Berlin prizes for 'Sweet As', 'The Survival of Kindness', 'Marungka tjalatjunu' . . 27 February 2023 . 31 March 2023.
7. Web site: Gbogbo . Mawunyo . The Birrarangga Film Festival has been Sweet As with final film screening on Tuesday night . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 March 2023 . 31 March 2023.
8. Web site: Clarke . Rhiannon . Jub Clerc's debut feature Sweet As snapped up by Australian movie powerhouse firm . National Indigenous Times . 30 August 2022 . 29 August 2024.
9. Web site: Sweet As – Behind the Scenes . Screen Australia . 26 May 2023 . 29 August 2024.
10. Web site: Where to watch streaming and online in Australia . Flicks.com.au . 29 August 2024.
11. Web site: Best of Contemporary Australian Cinema . Kolkata International Film Festival . 30 November 2023. 30 November 2023. en.
12. Web site: Sweet As . Asia Pacific Screen Awards . 13 October 2022 . 29 August 2024.
13. Web site: Keast . Jackie . 'Sweet As', 'Delikado' nominated for Asia Pacific Screen Awards . . 12 October 2022 . 29 August 2024.
14. Web site: Berlin prizes for 'Sweet As', 'The Survival of Kindness', 'Marungka tjalatjunu' . . 27 February 2023 . 31 March 2023.
15. Web site: Gbogbo . Mawunyo . The Birrarangga Film Festival has been Sweet As with final film screening on Tuesday night . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 March 2023 . 31 March 2023.
16. Web site: AWARDS . HOME . 4 July 2023 . 29 August 2024.
17. Web site: Winners & Nominees . AACTA . 29 August 2024.