NORTH FREMANTLE film-maker and scriptwriter, Miley Tunnecliffe has been short-listed for the largest and most prestigious screenwriting award in the world.

The Academy Nicholl Fellowship is part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the US.

It’s chaired by actor Annette Bening, and membership includes Colin Firth, Harrison Ford and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Tunnecliffe was in seventh heaven after being told her script was in the top five per cent of the international competition.

The 32 year old is already fielding calls from the US: “I have had people getting in contact with me,” she beams.

Last year’s Dockers’ semi-final, and the chaos of fans failing to get flights to Melbourne, inspired Tunnecliffe’s script for Run Santos Run.

• North Freo’s Miley Tunnecliffe—shortlisted for a major screenwriting award. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

It’s about a dysfunctional Argentinean/Australian family driving across the Nullarbor to Melbourne, where local matriarch Gloria hopes to save her home from repossession by winning money in a quiz show.

Six family members who don’t get on are in a car for three days and the result is riotous mayhem, Tunnecliffe says.

She’s busy: she has just finished making three short films, all about to be released, which she wrote and co-produced (and acted in one). In her spare time she’s started the tortuous process of applying for a US visa and finds time to show five-to-14-year-olds the art of acting and filmmaking at East Hamilton Hill primary school on Saturday mornings.

“We learn about the basics of film and if kids are not acting they are behind the camera,” Tunnecliffe says.

She’s running workshops over the school holidays, which kick off October 7.

For more info go to filmbites.com.au or phone 9209 2689.

by JENNY D’ANGER