SPADA Conference: Key Industry Awards Presented

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

20 November 2008

SPADA Conference: Key Industry Awards PresentedNovember 20-21, SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre

The Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA) presented these awards today at its annual conference:

1) New Filmmaker of the Year: Sam Kelly, winner of several short film awards in the 48Hours competition (Darlene, Maori Detective & the Boogie Fever, Baby Farmer) and the Filmaka Comp (DisMembered and Waiting for Gordy). He directed the successful short film Frames, which he self-funded and which screened in the NZ International Film Festival, the Tirana International Film Festival and the International Festival of Cinema and Technology and was released on DVD by Rialto Channel and Loop Recordings. Kelly was awarded the 2008 Italian Film Festival scholarship and will spend six weeks working in Italy late next year. He has recently completed a Masters in Screenwriting and plans to make his thesis script, a thriller - Snapshot, into a feature film. (See full bio attached.)

Sam Kelly wins $20,000 in post-production services from principal sponsor Park Road Post Production; plus $10,000 equipment rental from Panavision, $3,500 of film stock from Kodak, $4,000 cash from FACB, a travel prize from Stage and Screen and a Gold Card from SkyCity Cinemas.

2) Crombie Lockwood/MTJ Independent Producers of the Year: Philip Smith & Rachel Gardner of Great Southern Film and Television, the company which produced feature films Apron Strings and Show of Hands and television comedies The Pretender, Eating Media Lunch, The Unauthorised History of New Zealand, Millen Baird, 1000 Apologies, 2Tube and Back of the Y as well as reality series The Lion Man (sold to 120 countries), Singing Bee and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. (bio attached)

3) Onfilm Industry Champion: Caterina De Nave, currently executive producer of a wide-ranging slate at TV3 including Outrageous Fortune, bro'Town, A Thousand Apologies and The Jaquie Brown Diaries. This award is in recognition of De Nave’s legendary contribution to New Zealand drama, comedy and film for 30 years. Presenting the award, SPADA CEO Penelope Borland quoted from one of the many nominations: “Caterina has single-handedly challenged and changed the landscape of New Zealand television and is responsible for some of the best drama ever produced, from establishing Shortland Street to Outrageous Fortune. And in doing so she has kick-started the careers of some of this country’s brightest directors, writers and actors.”

SPADA Conference Principal Sponsor NZ Film Commission, Premium Sponsor TVNZ, Strategic Partners New Zealand Trade and Enterprise /Investment New Zealand Key Sponsors NZ On Air, Screenrights, Te Puni Kokiri, TV3 Sponsors and Supporters FACB, Film Finances, FIUA, Fuji, Images & Sound, Maori Television, Onfilm, Park Road Post Production, South Pacific Pictures, The Film Archive, WIFT. SPADA’s Premier Partner Telecom.

http://www.spada.co.nz/conference/2008/index.html.

Formed in 1982, the Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) represents the collective interests of independent producers and production companies on all issues affecting the business and creative aspects of screen production in New Zealand.

Please contact publicist Sue May to arrange interviews and/or media passes. suemay@xtra.co.nz ph 0274 739 318


ENDS

© Scoop Media