Paul Byrnes film criticism has always diverted his readers while he shared the many pleasures of the medium. He has an  eye for form;  an insistence on standards, and , rather than assuming omniscience, is willing to share his  wry personal responses to films.

Always distinctive, Paul’s critical writing has simply  gotten better in recent years: more mature, incisive – and argumentative. He is one of the few critics we have who pays serious attention to film as a vehicle for ideas. This was reflected in the work submitted for this year’s Pascall.

This year too saw the fruition of Paul’s work as a critic/curator for the new online resource australianscreen: (www.australianscreen.com.au) a government supported website devoted to every significant Australian film. It’s an ambitious undertaking, and an immense resource: Paul’s critical notes are exemplary.

More broadly, Paul Byrnes  work as a critic has made a significant contribution to screen culture in Australia.

He has taken pains to seek out and review significant films no matter how small the release ; he has provided encouragement for first time film makers while never puling his punches ; he has fostered audiences for such forms as documentary.  He is a critic on whom many of us have come to depend, even  if, as one of the judges said “he makes you want to go and see films you would never otherwise consider seeing”.