Griffith Film School (GFS) senior lecturer Dr Peter Hegedus has been nominated for an Australian Directors Guild Award for his powerful documentary, Lili.
The ADG Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of homegrown film directors. They are the only peer-judged awards for directors in Australia, recognising everything from feature films to documentary, television, animation and music videos.
National industry recognition
Dr Peter Hegedus
Dr Hegedus received a nod for Direction in a Feature Documentary, alongside some of the country’s top filmmakers.
“I’m very proud of the film, and to have my peers recognise my work at this level is amazing,” he said.
“There are some phenomenally talented directors nominated this year, so I’m just excited to be in their company.”
International acclaim
Lili premiered at the Sydney Film Festival last year and has just debuted internationally at the Krakow Film Festival. The film has struck a chord with audiences and critics, taking out a raft of awards, including Best Documentary at the Hungarian Film Critics Awards.
“I’m just enjoying riding the wave that this film has created,” he said.
“We’ve had interest from national broadcasters, and a European production company is keen to turn this story into a feature film.”
A creative journey across three continents
A scene from the award-winning feature documentary, Lili
The feature documentary follows a young mother who fled Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, leaving behind her first born child.
Decades after she settled in Australia, Lili’s second daughter, Edie, began the search for her dislocated family, travelling across three continents to confront the past.
Dr Hegedus wrote and directed the film, which was shot in Hungary, Canada and Australia.
“This film is about how history shapes the fate of families,” he said.
“What happens to families who are torn apart and how that trauma is passed on to the next generation.”
He said making the film had been a rewarding creative journey.
“To shed light on issues that affect millions around the globe has been a real honour and to have the film recognised on the world stage is particularly special,” he said.
Griffith alumnus comes full circle
A Griffith University alumnus, Peter is Deputy Director (Research and Engagement) and a senior lecturer at GFS. He is an award-winning writer, director and producer whose films have garnered critical acclaim around the world. His documentary Inheritance: A Fisherman’s Storywas short-listed for an Academy Award in 2004.
Dr Hegedus received funding from Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, Griffith University, FocusFox Studio and Hungarian television to complete Lili.
