Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language walked away with the top prize, the flagship Bright Horizons Award and $140,000AUD prize at the 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). In the offbeat film set in a mysterious and surreal interzone somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg, the lives of multiple characters interweave with each other in surprising and mysterious ways.

On selecting the Bright Horizons Award winner, the jury said, “One movie represented all of the facets of the Bright Horizons Award; a film whose cultural specificity transcends borders; whose cinematic playfulness is matched equally by its sensitivity; and whose very form is in conversation with cinema past, present and future. This is why the Bright Horizons Award goes to Universal Language by Matthew Rankin.”

The Bright Horizons Jury added, “We would also like to recognize a movie that not only had a profound impact on us as jury members, but which through its grace, empathy and universality will leave a mark on cinema and the world at large; the Special Jury Award goes to Flow by Gints Zilbalodis.”

The recipient of the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award is Jaydon Martin, awarding his distinctive cinematic blend of documentary and fictional filmmaking for Flathead. Recognizing Martin’s directing, the $70,000AUD award recognizes an Australian filmmaking talent for their work within an Australian feature film screening at the festival.

Recently named in honor of the late, great actor and activist, the Uncle Jack Charles Award, presented in collaboration with Kearney Group, was awarded to director and Wiradjuri-Scottish woman of the Galari/Kalari peoples, April Phillips, for her groundbreaking XR work titled, kajoo yannaga (come on let’s walk together).

This year’s MIFF Audience Award was a tie between two films – Voice by Krunal Padhiar and Semara Jose and Left Write Hook by Shannon Owen.

The winners join the 2024 MIFF Shorts Awards class, including Grand Prix winner Nebojša Slijepčević for The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, with the shorts-format award winners announced in a special standalone ceremony.

2024 Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) Award Winners

Bright Horizons Award presented by VicScreen
Universal Language directed by Matthew Rankin

Bright Horizons Special Jury Award
Flow directed by Gints Zilbalodis

Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award
Jaydon Martin, Flathead – directing

The Uncle Jack Charles Award in collaboration with Kearney Group
April Phillips, kajoo yannaga (come on let’s walk together) – director, lead artist

Intrepid Audience Award (joint winners)
Voice co-directed by Krunal Padhiar and Semara Jose
Left Write Hook directed by Shannon Owen

MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award, presented by Collarts
Alemania directed by Maria Zanetti