WIFT NZ News

A Message From WIFT Board Member Debra Kelleher

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Hello All,

2010 has been a year filled with cutbacks and cancelled TV shows, theatre has had limited ticket sales, films have been delayed and crews have waited while their start dates disappear or get pushed out. Without sounding clichéd, although it is true that when the going gets tough the tough get going, I have been delighted at the help I have had in putting together the well supported 8^th annual WIFT Awards. Doing so has reminded - even reassured - me that we indeed do have a thriving supportive community out there who - even in tough times - freely give their product, their expert advice and most of all their TIME.

The show this year will again deliver a star- studded top rating entertainment extravaganza with a few surprises. The Eradus after party will give many a chance to catch up and celebrate the successes of the year (there have been so many!) but let's not forget that the heart of the event is to support WIFT which, without such an opportunity to fundraise, could become yet another victim of the recession.

I would like to make a special welcome and mention to Susi Newborn, our new ED, and her side kick Nia, who have got their hands dirty with me, and had fun throughout, as well as my good mates and fair dinkum producers Gavin Wood and Ali Black. Special mention has to go to our Chairperson Catherine Fitzgerald who has supported us all through this difficult year, and just quietly got the job done. Enjoy the celebration, you deserve it, and EUREKA cheers to all you woman out there who make a difference and are changing the world one frame at a time!

- Debra Kelleher, Producer of the 2010 WIFT Awards, and WIFT Board member

Reminder To Buy Your Tickets Now!

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Join us for the 8th annual WIFT NZ Awards at Sky City Theatre on August 5^th 2010

A night of fabulous fun, wine, food and great entertainment!

Doors open at 6pm - cocktails

Show starts at 7pm - 8.30pm

Eradus wines after party (not to be missed!) 8.30pm-10.30pm

Special treat for WIFT members!

A great line up including Jennifer Ward Leyland, Robyn Malcolm, Mika, David Fane, Candy Lane and dancers, Anika Moa, Jackie Clarke, The Geeks and other surprise guests!

Goodie bags stuffed to the brim, spot prizes, film clips and a raffle with 3 prizes worth a total of several thousand dollars

Not bad for only $45!

Click here to buy your tickets now or call 0800 842 538

You can also purchase your tickets at any Ticketek Box Office (one is situated at Sky City Theatre)

Door sales 2 hours before the event on the night

WIFT Awards Accommodation Special

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

CityLife Auckland A Heritage Hotel is offering a discounted rate for WIFT members of $147 GST inc. per night for a one-bedroom suite and a free overnight park. CityLife is 4.5 star rated. Set on Queen Street it is just five minutes walk to the theatre.

Heritage Auckland is offering a superior room for $155 GST inc per night and $15 for an overnight car park. The hotel is less than 200 metres walk to the theatre.

To book your WIFT awards accommodation at either Heritage Auckland or CityLife Auckland contact Jody Sharratt - email jodys@heritagehotels.co.nz or call 09 979 7591 and mention the WIFT Awards. The special is available all the week of the event please visit the Heritage Hotels website for more info.

Finalists Announced For The WIFT NZ Awards!

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to all the finalists in the upcoming WIFT NZ awards! Below is a list of the different awards and the finalists for each:

South Pacific Pictures Award for Achievement in Film

Gaylene Preston

Sumner Burstyn

Ainsley Gardiner

Great Southern Film and Television Woman to Watch Award

Julia Parnell

Briar March

Kate McDermott

Television New Zealand Entrepreneurship Award

Sumner Burstyn

Rachel Gardner

Tania Rodger

Images and Sound Award for Success in Television

Yvonne Mackay

Debra Kelleher

Rachel Lang

Screentime Unsung Heroine of the NZ Screen industry Award

Jasmin McSweeney

Adria Buckton

Leonne Kassler

Te Puni Kōkiri Te Reo Māori Champion Award

Te Kaihapai O Ta Reo Māori

Manutai Schuster

Karen Waaka

Tini Molyneux

Outstanding Contribution to the NZ Screen Industry

Tini Molyneux

Rachel Lang

Gaylene Preston

For more information about each award and finalist please visit the WIFT NZ website.

Robyn Malcolm Returns To The Stage After Three Years

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

WIFT member, Outrageous Fortune star and one of New Zealand's most prolific and celebrated actors, Robyn Malcolm will be returning to the stage after a three year hiatus in the Silo Theatre production of the Samuel Beckett classic Happy Days. The show will be opening at the Herald Theatre on August 20^th until September 18^th 2010 and is being directed by Michael Hurst. Tickets are $20 - $39 (plus service fee) and can be purchased through The Edge website or by calling 09 357 3355.

WIFT Member Announced Finalist In Screenplay Competition

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to WIFT member Tamsyn Harker who, along with her sister Esther Venning have been announced finalists in the screenplay competition at the Moondance International Film Festival for their script This Dark Light. The winner of the competition will be announced mid August and more information about the finalists can be found here.

WIFT Member In New All-Woman BATS Theatre Show

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

WIFT member Yael Gezentsvey, who is also the writer featured in TVNZ's film A Piece of My Heart, will be starring in a new show at the BATS Theatre in Wellington called Paper Scissors Rock from Thursday 5^th until Saturday 14^th August. The show is about three sisters who reunite for their mother's 50^th birthday and the confrontations, confessions, and chaos that ensues. Also starring one of Shortland Street's favourite actors Bonnie Soper (known for her role as Morgan) and Colleen Davis who is the co-founder of the award winning Almost A Bird Theatre Collective. Additionally the play is being directed by Dena Marie Kennedy who directed the Fringe Festival Sunday Roast. For more information about the play please visit the BATS Theatre website. WIFT concessions are available.

NZFC Launches New Low Budget Short Film Scheme

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Earlier this month the NZ Film Commission announced a new low budget short film scheme for up-and-coming and emerging filmmakers called 'Fresh Shorts' which will be run in-house by the short film team at the NZFC. Fresh Shorts will fund eight $10,000 short films and eight $30,000 short films annually which will be assessed based on the director's experience. The scheme aims to identify the next generation of NZ feature filmmakers by nurturing and inspiring up-and-coming talent. Applications open Wednesday 28^th July and close Friday 8^th October 2010. For more information about the scheme please visit http://nzfilm.co.nz/fresh-shorts/.

NZFC’s Premier Shorts

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The NZFC has renamed its Short Film Fund Executive Producer Scheme to 'Premier Shorts' which will support six narrative short films at $90,000 per film in the 2010/2011 financial year. The Premiere Short films will be selected and overseen by Executive Producer groups, who will select two narrative shorts each.

The executive producer groups for the financial year 2010/2011 are:

A Collective Intake of Breath
Maile Daugherty, Michael Bennett

Tauihu Shorts
Tui Ruwhiu, Poata Eruera, Brad Haami

Tom Thumb Shorts
Steven O'Meagher, Chris Dudman, Polly Fryer

More information can be found on the NZ Film website.

UK Film Council To Be Abolished

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

In the UK the Department For Culture, Media and Sport has announced plans to abolish the UK Film Council in order to establish 'a direct and less bureaucratic relationship with the British Film Institute and support front-line services while ensuring greater value for money.' In response to this Tim Bevin CBE, Chairman of the UK Film Council has said that "abolishing the most successful film support organisation the UK has ever had is a bad decision, imposed without any consultation or evaluation." Further the Council plans to press the Government to confirm that the funding levels and core functions that are needed to underpin British film are locked-in and they will work with the Department For Culture, Media, and Sport over the summer "to identify how they can guarantee both continuity and safe harbour for British film." More information and updates can be found on the WIFT UK website.

Auckland Film Studios accepting bookings now!

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

For the last 4 years, Auckland Film Studios has been booked solid but they are now open for new bookings and actively taking enquiries. Auckland Film Studios is the largest studio complex in Auckland with world class facilities catering for domestic and international productions.

The former home to such high-profile projects as "Legend of the Seeker," "The Warrior's Way," "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," "30 Days of Night" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has created an infrastructure perfect for all feature film, television, commercial and event productions.

Set on a spacious 4.1 hectare site and located 20 minutes from downtown Auckland, Auckland Film Studios consists of five sound stages, totaling 5,251 sqm and 6 large multi-purpose buildings with canopies for all weather purposes. Click on the link to take you to the site plan of the studios which details all the facilities which are available for rent individually or as a complete package http://www.aucklandfilmstudios.com/studio.html. For more information contact the General Manager Kieran Fitzsimmons on 0275-861-561 or email your enquiry to info@aucklandfilmstudios.com

Our Condolences For The Loss of Actress Peta Rutter

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Peta Rutter passed away on July 20^th 2010 after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor only two weeks earlier. Our deepest sympathies go out to Peta's family and friends. If you wish to send a message to Peta's family you can email actors@aucklandactors.co.nz and they will pass it on to them.

ScreenTalk Interview With Keith Aberdein

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

An interview with veteran scriptwriter Keith Aberdein is featured in the ScreenTalk section of the NZ On Screen Website. Beginning his screen career as a journalist on Town and Around and Compass, Aberdein has been a part of some of New Zealand's biggest television and film moments having scripted major TV shows such as Pukemanu, Section 7, Moynihan, Close to Home and the colonial epic The Govenor. The interview can be viewed here.

Each week ScreenTalk features a 10 minute interview with someone from the NZ screen industry so make sure you check their website regularly to see who they interview!

NZ On Screen Available On iPad

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

NZ On Screen has launched a major upgrade to its website to coincide with the launch of Apple's iPad here in New Zealand. More than 300 television, film, short film and music titles have already been reformatted to play on the iPad and iPhone with the rest to come in the next few weeks. Please visit the NZ On Screen website for more information.

The Compostela Declaration By Women In Audiovisual Europe

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

On July 22^nd WIFT member Marian Evans posted on her blog, Wellywood Woman, about The Compostela Declaration which was created on May 7^th 2010 during a meeting of European women who are working for change in 'Audiovisual Europe' called II Encuentro Internacional de CIMA / II International Meeting of CIMA -Las mujeres del Audiovisual Europeo/ Women in Audiovisual Europe. This meeting was held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain and featured three days of intense discussion and dialogue with several panels and 41 speaking guests from 15 European countries. The Compostela Declaration is a result of the conclusions made during the meeting and defines the primary objectives of the women present. Most notably they would like to establish an International Network of Women in Audiovisual Europe as they believe that it is 'a project that can achieve progress in establishing gender equality in the audiovisual world.' To read more about the declaration please read Marian's blog entry.

Award Winning Show About Horses On Stratos TV

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

NZ horse lovers can now stay up to date with the latest news from the world equine scene with the award winning magazine style show Horse Talk TV. The Australian produced show which is broadcast in America and Holland screens on Saturdays at 5pm on Stratos Television. For more info please visit the Horse Talk TV website.

Win $500 Worth Of Movie Tickets!

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Flicks.co.nz is running a competition where $500 worth of movie tickets can be won by iPhone and iPod users who use the free Flicks.co.nz iPhone App. The competition closes on August 5^th and more information can be found on the website.

Nominate Women For The 2011 New Year Honours List

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Women's Affairs is seeking assistance with identifying and nominating women for the 2011 New Year Honours List. In the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List only 53 out of the 172 recipients were women. The Ministry believes that it is important that worthy women are brought to the attention of the Appointments and Honours Committee. Nominations close 1^st August 2010. For more information about the nomination process as well as how to make nominations please visit: http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/nominations/index.html.

Ministry of Women’s Affairs Welcomes New Chief Executive

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

On July 13^th Rowena Phair was appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Ministry of Women's Affairs. For more information about Rowena as well as the Ministry's current strategies and work programme please visit the Ministry of Women's Affairs website.

Arts On Sunday Podcast with Creative New Zealand

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Radio NZ's Arts On Sunday with Lynn Freeman brought together a panel of 'opinionated people' to discuss Creative New Zealand's shake up to the way it allocates funding to the country's main arts organizations on July 25th. Listen to the podcast here.