Vice-chancellor's Award for Excellence

Award given in 2009 for film work in 2008.
Master of Animation (2009)

Rachel's first short film, Apple of Iron, was released in 2009. The film enjoyed its inaugural Australian public screening at the Sydney International Animation Festival at UTS in September.

Apple of Iron made official selection, from strong competition, for the 2009 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. Annecy is the world's best known and most prestigious international animation festival. For over 45 years, it has been screening the world's finest works in the art of animation. Rachel Walls' success at Annecy is likely to set the stage for a long career in animation, and she is honoured with this Award for her outstanding early career achievements, and for her contribution to film.