Well, it’s been a big week for the New Zealand Film Industry. First, Hobbit fanatics and the world media came to Wellywood, or Hobbiton, or whatever we call ourselves these days, to celebrate the release of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.
The media did their best to find a negative story about the film, and just when you’d expect the studio would be wanting rave reviews to override the annoying distractions they placed restrictions on anyone actually talking about the film. Ah, Hollywood.
Once the hullaballoo about a hobbit and a bunch of dwarfs died down, it was time for the industry to get together at the inaugural Sorta Unofficial New Zealand Film Awards, held at The Civic’s Wintergarden on Tuesday evening.
Well, it’s been a big week for the New Zealand Film Industry. First, Hobbit fanatics and the world media came to Wellywood, or Hobbiton, or whatever we call ourselves these days, to celebrate the release of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.
The media did their best to find a negative story about the film, and just when you’d expect the studio would be wanting rave reviews to override the annoying distractions they placed restrictions on anyone actually talking about the film. Ah, Hollywood.
Once the hullaballoo about a hobbit and a bunch of dwarfs died down, it was time for the industry to get together at the inaugural Sorta Unofficial New Zealand Film Awards, held at The Civic’s Wintergarden on Tuesday evening.
It was a great night! Tusi Tamasese’s film The Orator was the star, scooping eight awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Costume Design, Best Screenplay and Best Sound.
The award winners were a big bunch of deserving, humble and beautiful people. Make sure you watch our broadcast of the awards on Sunday 16th December at 6.25pm. You’ll see the awards in full, and you’ll see my backstage interviews with most of the night’s winners, including Tusi Tamasese and the gorgeous Salamasina Mataia, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role The Orator. Dressed for the evening in a beautiful black strapless gown, Salamasina is pregnant with her first child (which she revealed is a boy) and plans to complete her tertiary study before taking up acting again - a talented and practical young woman.
Another favourite winner on the night was short film Honk If You’re Horny, written and directed by Joe Lonie. It’s a raucous, entertaining and beautifully executed short film about a taxi driver recounting a sexual encounter to a passenger. New Zealand and Aussie acting legend Andy Anderson is the lead, and he’s fantastic! It was no surprise when he won the Best Actor award, with the film also winning Best Short Film Screenplay and Best Short Film.
You’ll see plenty of famous faces presenting and receiving the awards, from Anna Hutchison and Will Hall to Lee Tamahori and Roger Donaldson. The show was MC’d by Hugh Sundae and if the gentleman leading the band looks familiar, that’s because it’s Kiwi actor Joel Tobeck.
It would be fair to say, the Sorta Unofficial New Zealand Film Awards was a fresh take on what an awards evening can be. A touch alternative and irreverent, the fast paced ceremony was also respectful in honouring New Zealand filmmakers.
A small tip, when you’re watching the broadcast keep an eye out for the Best Film visual packages where new trailers with a twist have been created for the best film nominees.
Congratulations to all the finalist and winners, and good-on-ya to Ant Timpson and Hugh Sundae for having the guts to get the show off the ground in the first place.
The winners:
Best film: The Orator
Best Self-Funded Film: The Red House
Best Director: The Orator - Tusi Tamasese
Best Cinematography: The Most Fun You Can Have Dying - Crighton Bone
Best Editing: Two Little Boys - Annie Collins
Best Actor: The Orator - Fa'afiaula Sagote
Best Actress: The Orator - Tausili Pushparaj
Best Supporting Actor: Netherwood - Will Hall
Best Supporting Actress: The Orator - Salamasina Mataia
Best Screenplay: The Orator - Tusi Tamasese
Best Score: The Most Fun You Can Have Dying - Grayson Gilmour
Best Sound: The Orator - Tim Prebble, Chris Todd, Richard Flynn, Mike Hedges and Gilbert Lake
Best Production Design: The Most Fun You Can Have Dying - Bruce Everard
Best Makeup Design: The Devil's Rock - Davina Lamont, Sean Foot and Richard Taylor
Best Costume Design: The Orator - Kirsty Cameron
Best Visual Effects: Two Little Boys - Jon Baxter and Puck Murphy
Best Short Film: Honk If You're Horny
Best Short Film Actor: Honk If You're Horny - Andy Anderson
Best Short Film Actress: Whakatiki - Mabelle Dennison
Best Documentary: Maori Boy Genius
Best Documentary Director: Shihad: Beautiful Machine - Sam Peacocke
Best Documentary Cinematography: How Far is Heaven - Christopher Pryor
Best Documentary Editing: Shihad: Beautiful Machine - Cushla Dillon
Best Self-Funded Short Film: In Safe Hands
Best Short Film Cinematography: I'm the One - Bonnie Elliott
Best Short Film Script: Honk If You're Horny - Joe Lonie