Ms Kosloff created her short film out of commercial stock footage shot for corporate advertising, building a fictional tale of an office worker secretly trying to write a novel during work hours.

Exhibition judge and curator Melissa Keys said the short film reflected Ms Kosloff's sensitivity, humour and intelligence.

"In her work Kosloff creates a narrative in which an office worker is secretly writing an absurd multi-dimensional novel, in which his colleagues are the inspiration for his characters, including a time travelling con artist who invests other people's money in future markets with prior knowledge of the outcomes," she said.

Ms Kosloff was one of 16 finalists for the $20,000 prize, which Ballarat ear, nose and throat surgeon Mark Guirguis founded in 2013. 

"Now that the Guirguis New Arts Prize has gained a national reputation, it emphasises the importance of contemporary art and culture and highlights the significance of the prize to FedUni's Arts Academy, the Art Gallery of Ballarat and to the regional city of Ballarat," Mr Guirguis said.

Ms Kosloff said she was delighted to win the Guirguis prize. "Not only is it a tremendous honour but so helpful in a practical sense, as it will enable me to put even more resources and time into my art practice," she said

The works of all 16 finalists are on display at Federation University's Post Office Gallery and the Art Gallery of Ballarat until June 2.

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