Sydney Student Wins International Wyd Video Competition

Katrina Lee, Director, Catholic Communications
24 May 2011

Kieran Williams, 25, has won first prize in the international World Youth Day Madrid video competition.

Flown to Madrid as one of the finalists, Kieran didn't think he had much chance in taking out first prize.

However last night his short video "The Power of Confession" was named the winning entry.

Although film-making is just a hobby for Kieran he also took out first prize last year in the national Xt3-Mary MacKillop Looking for Mary video competition with his film "Suffering With a Smile".

His latest winning effort is based on a true story about two friends stranded in the ocean. One gives up his life for the other, knowing he has been to confession and feels at peace.

The man he saved eventually went on to become a priest.

Kieran said the win was "really out of the blue"  but he was "stoked at the outcome". Co-creator of the film was another Sydney student, Sebastian James while one of the actors was Alfio Stuto, the second winner in the Looking for Mary competition and also remembered as Jesus in Sydney's World Youth Day Stations of the Cross.

Kieran also wrote and performed the song in the video which will be shown during World Youth Day in August. Kieran's winning prize was 10,000euros - already ear-marked for his next production.

For more information go to http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2011/2011524_1040.shtml