Huge Entry Numbers For Film And TV Awards

media release
21 July 2010

Entry Numbers For Third Qantas Film And Television Awards Show Resilience In Tough Environment

The 2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards has received an impressive 637 entries, providing a clear indication of the strength and resilience of New Zealand’s film and television industries.

Despite a challenging economic environment, the quality and calibre of work that was produced in the past year is both significant and worthy of celebration, say the Awards’ organisers.

More than 80 judges will have the task of judging entries to name the finalists in 61 award categories across News and Current Affairs, General Television, Documentary and Film.

The categories are grouped into three specialisations and each area is chaired by an independent industry leader with a depth of professional experience:
• Paul Norris, Head of School, New Zealand Broadcasting School is chair of News and Current Affairs judges
• Helene Wong, Film critic and consultant chairs the Film panels
• Richard Driver, Owner and programmer, Documentary Channel is chair of the General Television and Broadcasting panels

This year, for the first time, the judging panel will be brought together for a dedicated Judges’ Weekend. The weekend will allow for all of the judges to go through their scores together and review the entries in order to select the best offerings from across the industry.

“Enabling the judges to come together to confer and debate the entries is an important step in continuing to raise the bar on recognising the calibre of our film and television industries,” said Rick Friesen, New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council chief executive and organising committee co-chair.

Fellow co-chair Anna Cahill, executive director of the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand, said that “once again we have had a wide range of entries across the 61 categories. It is great to see the industries producing such a healthy number of entries that highlight the depth of the talent that exists in New Zealand film and television”.

The prestigious Awards’ programme is jointly organised by the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand and the New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council. This year’s Awards’ events will be held at the Town Hall and Civic Theatre in Auckland on 17 and 18 September.

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