Ten Million Deaths? Australia Takes A Creative Lead on A Serious Health Issue

SYDNEY, June 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- An Australian short film competition has taken the creative lead on spreading the word about the global health issue of antibiotic resistance, with a clever film about antibiotic resistance and romance taking out first place at the awards ceremony in Sydney, Australia.

Entries in the #SaveTheScript competition came from around the world (including Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the United States) and were created by high school students, amateur and professional film makers, health professionals and people whose lives have been affected by antibiotic resistance.

Tropfest, the world's largest short film festival, partnered with Australian not-for-profit health group NPS MedicineWise providing filmmakers with the brief to make a 45 second film on antibiotic resistance.

Taking out the top prize in the industry-first competition is "The Pick Up" -- featuring a sultry scenario where a man walks into a bar and meets a very attractive lady called Gonorrhea.

"Antibiotics aren't what they used to be," the man at the bar is told seductively by his new friend Gonorrhea. "People use them so often these days the world has created new strains of superbugs that spread old favourites like tuberculosis, syphilis and yours truly."

The film is the work of Melbourne-based OneWay Pictures. Producer Vincent Zimbardi says of their inspiration for the film, "As antibiotics continue to lose their power, such an important and serious message needed to get out there and reach people. Sometimes audiences deflect overly dramatic and serious communication. We know people embrace and engage in humour, so we wondered, what if gonorrhea was a person?"

To view the winning film, "The Pick Up", please click here.

The judges were charmed by the animation featuring a young girl and her toy rabbit in Second Prize Winner "Fight Antibiotic Resistance". Created by animation director Stevie Watkins, the film will make every parent stop and think about the issue of antibiotic resistance as the whimsical world of the young girl ends up in a serious, devastating health situation.

To view the second place winner, please click here.

Taking out Third Prize is a creative and striking animation featuring an army of zombies, volcanic explosions and fierce killer bees. The film "10 Million Deaths" animates the recent and dire prediction that 10 million people could die each year from antibiotic resistance by 2050 if we don't all take action. The animation was the work of Seek and Hide Productions.

To view the third place winner, please click here.

Collaborating with a not-for-profit organisation on a health issue was a new step for Tropfest, and Managing Director Michael Laverty says he is "Absolutely thrilled by the incredible entries received and how filmmakers took this serious issue in so many creative, inspiring avenues to raise awareness. The campaign was industry-first and boundary pushing and we encourage people to watch and share these films."

NPS MedicineWise CEO Dr. Lynn Weekes said that she is thrilled that so many filmmakers embraced the competition and its progressive approach to raising awareness about antibiotic resistance.

"Antibiotic resistance is a serious global health issue that is already affecting our communities. Short films have enormous potential to reach a global audience and encourage people to think about how they can join the fight against antibiotic resistance," said Dr. Weekes.

The top 15 films, featuring superheroes, claymation superbugs, talking antibiotics, mothers that think they know best and a relationship breakup plus more, can be viewed on the NPS MedicineWise YouTube channel, please click here.

Media queries at NPS MedicineWise: Email [email protected] or phone +61 2 8217 8667

About NPS MedicineWise: Independent, not-for-profit and evidence based, NPS MedicineWise enables better decisions about medicines and medical tests. We are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.

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SOURCE NPS MedicineWise