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5h ago

‘A Poet’ Wins MIFF’s $140,000 Bright Horizons Prize; ‘First Light’ Director Takes Australian Honor

The victory builds on a Cannes award, spotlighting MIFF’s backing of early‑career filmmakers.

Ubeimar Rios in 'A Poet'
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Overview

  • A Poet, Simón Mesa Soto’s second feature, took the Bright Horizons award and its $140,000 cash prize at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
  • The Bright Horizons jury, led by Aftersun writer‑director Charlotte Wells, praised the film’s blend of character study and social satire.
  • James J. Robinson won MIFF’s Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director award for First Light, receiving $50,000 plus an URSA Cine 12K camera kit valued at $27,500.
  • First Light, an Australia–Philippines co‑production shot in the Philippines and led by Ruby Ruiz, examines faith, institutional corruption and moral awakening.
  • Other honorees included Yarrenyty Arltere Artists with the Uncle Jack Charles Award, Careless with the Intrepid Audience Award, and Greetings From Mars with the MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award, while coverage differed on A Poet’s lead casting attribution.