THE winners of the MIFF Footy Shorts were announced Thursday night to a full house at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

Suitcase Murphy won first prize ($5000) for his short Walpeup – Underbool.  Nothing unites people in an isolated rural community like football does. Walpeup-Underbool is the story of an extraordinary response to a perpetual struggle. A town needs a footy club. "The film was a very moving account of one clubs struggle for survival itself. Any club that has to rely on drought-stricken farmers for donations is obviously in a lot of trouble” said judge Mick Molloy.

Sophie O’Connor won second prize ($3000) for her short Run with the Ball and Die with your Boots On - a true story of a man overcoming physical injuries and adversity through football.

Third prize ($2000) went to Sky Davies and Paul Green for their film Child Rearing for Richmond Supporters. In today’s harsh and unforgiving world. The Richmond FC is the only institution preparing our nations kiddies for the trials and tribulations of life. The winning of football games must never intrude on this vital mission

The Melbourne International Film Festival and the AFL joined together in a unique collaboration to help celebrate 150 years of Australian football. The challenge to filmmakers was to make a short film about what footy meant to them, its connection to community and the 150 years celebration. Two months and 51 submissions later, MIFF has chosen the top 11 Footy Shorts to screen at this year’s festival. The top 11 films were screened at exactly 150 years to the day since the first recorded Australian football game took place.

Judges Mick Molloy, Bill Hunter, Fenella Kernebone and Rohan Connolly were in attendance to award the prizes, totaling $10,000 provided by the AFL.