The awards, which were announced on December 8, are presented by the AACTA to encourage local talent.
Stefan found out that he was nominated a month ago, but had to pre-record his acceptance speech as he was unable to attend the ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“I was at home watching it stream with my kids and it came up ... I was thrilled, shocked, surprised, flattered,” he said.
“Coming from Cobram, it’s such a small town and we hit above our weight ... I pinch myself every day, like ‘Oh my God, I’m working in this industry’.
“I’m really flattered to represent Cobram.”
It comes off the back of his previous win for cinematography at last year’s AACTA awards, for The Invisible Man with Elizabeth Moss.
Stefan started making films while he was a student at Cobram Secondary College as part of his studies.
“When my friends and I had to do a project in English in Year 11 we decided to band together and make a big Italian mafia film, because we all had Italian heritage,” he said.
“We made a half-an-hour-long film, we shot in VHS and cut it together with VCRs ... we were very lucky that the school had one camera but editing was a nightmare, it was so tricky.”
However, it was only after he had finished his arts degree in Melbourne in his early 20s that his interest in film reoccurred.
He has since made a number of feature films, commercials, and music videos for big celebrities like Beyoncé.
For him, The Dry was an incredibly challenging experience involving lots of compromise like most films, but he described it as a very supportive experience.
“”I felt really well supported the whole time, they really trusted my vision for what it could look like,“ Stefan said.
“We all thought we could be making a classic if we worked hard enough.”
He said growing up in Cobram and regional Victoria has “absolutely” influenced his cinematographical style.
“It’s had a huge influence on me, especially in making a film like The Dry,” he said.
“It’s quite a creative community in Cobram ... I had amazing English and art teachers, we were encouraged in every artistic endeavour.”
He explained that young filmmakers and creatives in Cobram and regional Victoria shouldn’t feel limited by their location.
“The tools they have available to them today are light years beyond anything I ever had when I was in high school,” Stefan said.
“Don’t let your location diminish in your mind what you’re capable of.”
“Don’t think because they go a fancy private school in the city doesn’t mean they’re more creative or better than you.”
14°C