Secondary School Film Competition Winners

Media Release
8 November 2010

National Secondary School Film Competition Winners Announced

Botany Downs College took out first place at the Turners Short Film Awards, an event run by Students Against Drink Driving and sponsored by Turners Auctions encouraging secondary school students to tackle the issue of drink-driving on screen.

National MP Tau Henare and The Edge’s Mike Puru presented the group with their award during the ceremony at Turners Auctions, Penrose last Friday night.

The group’s four-minute film, Drive, impressed the judges and sent a powerful message to viewers, encouraging them to make travel plans before going out to ensure a great night.

“We’re really happy to have done so well in the competition,” said Calvin Sang, one of the students involved in the project.

“We’ve put in heaps of effort making the film over the last couple of months and we are passionate about letting students know that you can have a good time and drink, just don’t drive.”

The finalists were given the red carpet treatment at the award ceremony, which included mocktails as well as flashing lights and emergency vehicles to fit the theme.

“The Awards were a great opportunity for us to showcase the work of some of New Zealand’s most talented young filmmakers. We have no doubt that a lot of these students have bright futures in the film industry and are proud to be associated with an initiative to encourage responsible choices by our young people,” says Graham Roberts, Chief Executive of Turners Auctions.

This year’s theme was “Plan B4 U Party” and each entry was required to reflect the theme throughout their film.

“We wanted to get students thinking about how they can avoid getting in a position where they may be tempted to drive after their judgement has been impaired by alcohol,” says Anna Reid, National Manager of SADD.
“We were extremely impressed by the way these film makers approached the brief and we saw many memorable scenes that will hopefully stay with the young people who view them.”

Young people are overrepresented in all key statistics relating to drink driving and with all statistics related to deaths and injuries rising from 2008 to 2009.

Many of the films in the competition included graphic reminders of the potential outcomes of drink driving.

“The peer-to-peer education that this competition provides is a great way of raising awareness amongst young people in a creative yet sobering way,” says Brendon Crompton, National Manager for Blue Light.

The five finalist’s films can be purchased on DVD. Go to www.sadd.org.nz for more information.

All winners are:

1st Place - Botany Downs Secondary College with Drive
2nd Place - Gisborne Boys High School with Whanau 2
3rd Place - Opotiki College with Plan B4 U Party

Other awards:

Most Creative - Waimea College with Going Home
Best on Theme - Mt Maunganui College with Bad Dreams
Culturally Influential - Gisborne Boys High School with Whanau 2

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