Film NZ Elects New Chair

Media release from Film New Zealand

20 October 2008

Film NZ Elects New Chair

At its Annual General Meeting on Friday coinciding with the release of its 2008 Annual Report, the Board of Trustees elected Julian Grimmond as the new Chair of Film New Zealand.

As the first Film New Zealand Chair from the South Island, Julian Grimmond joined the Film New Zealand Board in 2006. Based in Queenstown, he is an Emmy ® Award winning producer who brings extensive global production experience. His business interests include Mountain Film Unit Ltd, an internationally-focused production company and screen industry risk management specialists, Global Film Solutions Ltd.

The Board and staff paid tribute to the contributions by two inaugural trustees, David Madigan and Ruth Harley, who retired at the AGM. Industry trustee and former Chair David Madigan is working as production sound mixer on the television series The Legend of the Seeker filming in Auckland and the New Zealand Film Commission’s Chief Executive and its nominated trustee Ruth Harley is taking up her new role as CEO of Screen Australia next month. Both have served on the Film New Zealand Trust since its inception and have also served on the Trust’s Finance and Audit Committee since 2004.

The nomination by the New Zealand Film Commission of Sarah Cull as its new representative trustee, replacing Ruth Harley, was accepted by the Board. Sarah Cull is the Head of Business Affairs and manages the administration of both the Large Budget Screen Production incentive and the new Screen Production Incentive Fund for productions with significant New Zealand content.

Continuing industry members of the Board are: Sue Thompson Deputy Chair, Murray Francis, Julie Elstone and Keith Mackenzie. Peter Avery from Film Venture Taranaki is the regional film offices’ elected representative and Cheryll Sotheran, Sector Director Creative Industries with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is Investment NZ’s nominated trustee.

Film New Zealand is New Zealand's national film locations office. Established in 1994 by the screen production film industry, it is an independent charitable trust, led by the Board of Trustees representing the industry and key stakeholders including the regional film offices.

Film New Zealand is supported by the Government through the Ministry of Economic Development with additional support from the New Zealand Film Commission and project funding from Investment New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Film New Zealand also receives significant 'in kind' contributions from the industry through advice and other professional assistance.

Film New Zealand's 2008 Annual Report is available for downloading on www.filmnz.com under About Film NZ - Trust. Biographies of the Trustees are also available at that site.

ENDS

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