RMIT student Angeline Armstrong has combined her passions for film and French culture to win a prestigious award.
The French and media studies student was awarded the Francophonie Award from the Embassy of France and the Government of New Caledonia, in conjunction with Campus France Australia, for her video submission titled L’Hexagon.
The university video competition encouraged students to submit short clips regarding what “Made in France” meant to them in a globalised world, striving to subvert the stereotypes surrounding French culture.
Ms Armstrong’s two-minute entry explored the modern yet historically-grounded nature of the French landscape through sophisticated verses and black and white footage.
The video’s title originated from her affection for the nickname often given to the hexagonal-shaped country, and sought to move away from the inclination of “putting France in a box” when it is actually a complex, polygonal entity.
Emerging screenwriter, director, producer and award-winning RMIT student, Angeline Armstrong. Photo: Amelia Stanwix.
With only two days to meet the deadline, the multi-talented screenwriter, director and producer worked with her own music, unused footage from an old trip to France and her knowledge of the language and culture.
A third year Bachelor of Communication (Media) student undertaking film/TV with a social contextual major in philosophy and electives inFrench studies, Ms Armstrong said the competition gave her the unique opportunity to pair her love for the French society with her professional skills in filmmaking and editing.
“I feel so encouraged and blessed; receiving financial rewards for my creative film work is a privilege that I didn’t really expect at this point in my life,” she said.
“Whether you’re working with a billion dollar Hollywood budget or a $1,000 Pozible campaign – it’s partly about raw inspiration, but largely about evaluating your available resources and drawing inspiration from that as well.”
Ms Armstrong was awarded a return airfare to New Caledonia and a 30-hour French immersion program at the Centre de Rencontres et d’Echanges Internationaux du Pacifique (CREIPAC), international centre of exchange in the Pacific region.
Dr Kerry Mullan, Coordinator of French Studies and Ms Armstrong’s French 4 teacher, said the RMIT Language Studies team were absolutely delighted with her well-deserved win.
“Her video is beautiful and is clearly the result of a lot of hard work,” Dr Mullan said.
“Her award is an inspiration to all our French students and colleagues – it shows what motivation and dedication can achieve.”
Ms Armstrong’s award will be presented this month at a ceremony held at Alliance Française in Melbourne.
