Matt Levett wins seventh annual Heath Ledger scholarship

Actor and filmmaker Matt Levett has won the 2015 Heath Ledger Scholarship, Australians in Film announced.

Emilie Cocquerel and Lily Sullivan were named this year's runners-up.

"It was inspiring to be on a judging panel where every person was passionate and invested in the result. The decision was not easy as each of the applicants are talented and unique and we are sure they will have long and lovely careers," said casting director Laray Mayfield, who was a judge on the panel that chose who best deserved the grant. "Ultimately, our decision was to award the scholarship to Matt Levett. We are all excited about watching his talent and career continue to grow and we are also looking forward to seeing the work the runners-up Emilie Cocquerel and Lily Sullivan will do."

Each year, Ledger's father Kim, patron of the scholarship, contacts the winner to advise them that they have won.

"It is always such an exciting phone call to make because we know that the scholarship makes such an impact on a young performer's career," Ledger said. "For the seventh year, the scholarship has gone to a deserving recipient in Matt Levett. This is a wonderful initiative run by Australians in Film and we wish Matt every success."

Heath Ledger's mother, Sally Bell, and sister, Kate Ledger, attended the June 1 Los Angeles dinner where Levett was announced as the winner.

Heath Ledger -- the star of The Dark Knight, Brokeback Mountain and The Patriot -- died in 2008 of an accidental prescription drug overdose. He was 28.