Every Moment Counts at Tropfest 2015

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Every Moment Counts at Tropfest 2015

Auckland short film writer and director Gabriel Reid has earned the top spot at Tropfest NZ 2015 with his seven-minute film ‘Every Moment’.

Joined by producer Maile Daugherty and editor Dan Martin, Reid attended Tropfest along with 15 other hopeful short film finalists, crew and an estimated crowd of around 9,000 at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands on Saturday night.

Producer Maile Daugherty said the inspiration for the film came from her mother who had the idea of using the wire of a champagne cork as a wedding ring.

Every Moment took out three of the eight awards up for grabs at the 2015 festival. “So many people contributed generously to producing Every Moment” Reid said, “It's just wonderful that those contributions have been celebrated.”

“Tropfest provides an excellent platform for filmmakers seeking to move toward longer form narrative & the prize includes a trip to L.A. with various meetings and opportunities for networking. That alone has made the effort worthwhile. We're deeply grateful to Tropfest, the New Zealand Screen Association and the Motion Picture Association for making this possible.”

The Tropfest NZ winning film place-getter takes away a return flight to Los Angeles to meet with film and TV executives, five nights’ accommodation and $500 spending money, sponsored by the Motion Picture Association and NZ Screen Association.

Matthew Cheetham, Managing Director of the NZ Screen Association said “We are once again delighted to be involved in Tropfest which provides a platform for a broad spectrum of filmmakers to showcase their work. The submissions this year were simply stunning with a number of different genres represented.”

“Reid’s film Every Moment was an exceptional work and we are greatly looking forward to be working with him as he visits our member studios in Los Angeles later this year for a one week immersion program.”

First prize also takes possession of a $10,000 cash prize, sponsored by the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust. A joking Reid said he tried to pay for his minibar bill with his giant $10,000 cheque “but for a bill of $3.50, they didn't have change! Joking aside, we'll be sure to put it to great use.”

Winston Peters’ daughter Bree Peters was also a notable actress in the film and award winner. Unable to attend the event she was stunned to receive a call informing her she’d nabbed two awards.

“I'm just so surprised and had no expectation of winning at all. Now, to have won not one but two awards -- well, it's left me speechless but absolutely delighted. I'm just so grateful and happy to have been a part of this project.”

Peters won Best Actress as well the Nga Aho Whakaari and Te Puni Kokori sponsored award recognizing outstanding Māori creativity in film, both with a $2,500 cash prize attached.

Whetu Fala, Chairwoman of Nga Aho Wahakaari said she was rapt to see the numbers of key Māori creatives involved in the Tropfest 2015 finals increase by over 200% from last year.

“Tropfest is a great festival for Māori filmmakers to try out their ideas in front of the largest short film audience in Aōtearoa in one night. Last year there were 8,000 here and it was fantastic. We asked the Māori filmmakers to 'bring it' for Tropfest 2015 and they have!"

Tropfest International Managing Director Michael Laverty was on hand to announce ‘DREAM’ as the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) for 2016. The TSI changes each year and must be incorporated into each film entry, designed to encourage more production of films.

“TAFT is very pleased how the night went, whilst a bit chilly, people braved the wind gusts and stayed to the end to see all 16 high quality short films,” said Taranaki Arts Festival Trust Chief Executive Suzanne Porter.

“Tropfest just re-confirms that New Zealand has great stories, great filmmakers and great talent.”

The Tropfest winner and finalist films can be viewed on Tropfest NZ’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.comn/TropfestNZ

Acting luminaries who walked the red carpet at the event included What We Do In the Shadows vampire Ben Fransham, Ben Barrington the godly ‘Olaf’ from The Almighty Johnsons, and Will Hall of Shortland Street fame.

The judges for the 2015 festival included James Napier Robertson, director of the multiple award-winning film The Dark Horse, Composer and Best Score winner Dana Lund for The Dark Horse, director of Scarfies and Out of the Blue Robert Sarkies, entertainment lawyer and president of both SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association) and WIFT (Women in Film and Television) Karen Soich, award-winning writer, director and producer Gaylene Preston and kiwi editor of the Directory of World Cinema: Australia & New Zealand 2 and film lecturer at Waikato University Geoff Lealand.

AWARD WINNERS:

Second Place – Kirk & Luke Bremner for ‘This Side Up Removals’, winning $1,000 cash and a one-year Getty Images iStock subscription

Third Place – Ben Hobbs for ‘Slabbed’, winning $500 cash

Tropfest Best Actress - Bree Peters in ‘Every Moment’, winning $2,500 cash

Tropfest Best Male Actor - Preston O'Brien in ‘Slabbed’, winning $2,500 cash

Yoobee School of Design Best VFX – Emma Schranz for ‘Charlie Floyd's Visionarium’, winning $2,500 cash and one free short course at any Yoobee campus or online course of choice

Yoobee School of Design Best Animated Film – Steven McNicholl for ‘Egg’, winning $2,500 cash and one free short course at any Yoobee campus or online course of choice

Nga Aho Whakaari & Te Puni Kokiri Te Tohu Auahatanga Maori Award - Bree Peters in ‘Every Moment’, winning $2,500 cash

ZM Viewer's Choice award - 'Every Moment'

Tropfest’s official photography, video and production music partner Getty Images also supplied a free one-month iStock subscription to all 15 other runner-up finalists.

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