Hay River (July 17/06) - A much-honoured Hay River filmmaker has made his first impact overseas.

Kelvin Redvers won first place in his age category at the third annual International Youth Film Festival, held in Kundl, Austria.

Hay River filmmaker Kelvin Redvers poses with the tool of his trade: the video camera. The Northern writer/director recently won his first overseas award, taking first overall in his age category at the third annual Youth International Film Festival in Kundl, Austria. - photo courtesy of Kelvin Redvers

"At first it was just kind of a shock," Redvers said of his win, which he heard about earlier this month. "My next thought, I went out and told my family, told my friends."

The competition included 200 films from 40 countries, competing in five categories.

The four runners-up in Redvers's category came from Austria, Palestine, Sweden and the USA.

The Simon Fraser University film student won with a short film called "Simple Pleasures," which he made while still in high school last year.

"I decided that I would give it a shot," he said of his decision to send in the film.

On Canada Day, Revders, who was unable to attend the awards due to cost, was awarded first prize. He said "Simple Pleasures" was more of a dramatic piece, where Redvers is usually known for his comedy.

The plot follows a single character trying to enjoy the "simple pleasure" of making a sandwich and eating it.

However, fate, in the form of a large number of friends, family and well-wishers, keep getting in the way.

Redvers said the short movie was a truly Northern production. "It was written, filmed and edited in Hay River," he said.

Of course, you can't do this sort of thing alone.

Filming the piece required the help of family and friends, who often serve as stars, assistants and composers in his films. This movie includes Jared Monkman, who starred as the film's hapless protagonist (and often records music for the movies), as well as performances from his sister, Tunchai Redvers and others.

Entering his second year at SFU in Vancouver, Redvers said this win reminds him of the next step of his filmmaking career.

"Soon, I will no be longer eligible for youth and student festivals," he explained.

With that in mind, he said he'll be stepping into adult competitions and showings, including anything he can find in the North.

"I'm a Northerner so if there's northern events going on, I'll get involved."

It may have been Redvers's fourth win at an international festival, but he said this one was a little special.

"One of the coolest things for me was to be billed as 'Canada,' he said.

"Kelvin Redvers from Canada won first place." of it.