International Marketing Awards for Film NZ

International Marketing Awards for Film New Zealand

Film New Zealand, the national film office, won international recognition for its promotion of New Zealand as a screen production destination in the 2008 marketing awards announced last week by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) during the Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica, USA.

These prestigious top place awards, presented by the AFCI and its panel of marketing experts, were given to Film New Zealand for its inaugural advertising campaign promoting filming in New Zealand and for the 3rd edition of The New Zealand Screen Production Guide. Film New Zealand s advertising campaign, developed by Wellington-based Unlimited Ltd., has been made possible in part by additional funding for the national film office announced by the Minister of Economic Development last July. The campaign highlights New Zealand s versatility and value for international film and television production.

The top award for the New Zealand Screen Production Guide s 3rd edition released in March this year is the second time it has received recognition as the best production guide in the world. The 2nd edition also received this award in 2006. The Guide is researched and published by Film New Zealand with project funding from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise/Investment NZ and designed and printed by Station Creative.

The Locations Trade Show brings together more than 250 film offices from 30 countries with an estimated 3,000 film practioners to discuss business. With such a global reach, the AFCI marketing awards are highly competitive.

2008 is the 11th year Film New Zealand as AFCI member has been representing New Zealand as a screen production destination at Locations Trade Show. New Zealand s team was this year was once again led by Film New Zealand s Projects Manager Susan Ord and included:

Peter Avery, head of regional film office Film Venture Taranaki where he assisted The Last Samurai and the elected regional representative trustee on the Film New Zealand Board. Peter is also an experienced television commercials producer and director;

Murray Francis, Auckland-based Line Producer for 10,000 BC, World s Fastest Indian, and most recently the Korean/USA feature that shot in Auckland Laundry Warrior. Murray is also a trustee on the Film New Zealand Board;

Philip Turner, Queenstown-based location manager/scout with extensive experience on international television commercials filming throughout the country. Philip has recently finished filming on X-Men Origins: Wolverine in Queenstown.

These industry experts provide invaluable hands on knowledge about screen production in New Zealand. Investment NZ s LA representative Jessica Burns also assisted on the New Zealand stand.

Among the marketing awards presented by the AFCI, Film Queenstown received an Honourable Mention for The Film Otago Southland Regional Handbook in the production guide category.

The New Zealand Screen Production Guide is the prestigious hard copy showcase for New Zealand in the global entertainment market, working along our website www.filmnz.com to wide-acclaim. This 3d edition is greatly expanded; it highlights the value offered by the enhanced Large Budget Screen Production and Post-production, Digital and Visual Effects incentive, industry talents, equipment, infrastructure, film friendly local councils and regional film office network and this country s amazingly diverse locations. The Guide also provides practical information on taxation, transportation, accommodation, telecommunications, etc. that are all essential components in the business of screen production , said Film New Zealand s CEO Judith McCann.

Film New Zealand s advertising campaign was selected ahead of the other international competitors, as Peter Avery commented, for content. They have some thought behind them and are very accessible to the target audience so that is why they resonated with the judges.

For further information about Film New Zealand visit www.filmnz.com

ENDS

© Scoop Media