6 July 2017

Ngaruawahia youth group organises the town’s first film festival

Ngaruawahia youth action group ‘Embrace the Future’ is organising the town’s first ‘Kauawhi Matakite’ short film festival for budding film makers aged 11-21 on Sunday 22 July and is calling for entries.

The group’s facilitator, 21-year-old Cory Newport, who sits on the Ngaruawahia Community Board, says, “We want to show our community what Ngaruawahia looks like through the eyes of youth. And we want to showcase the young talent that’s in our community.”

“It’s going to be Sunday night movies with popcorn starting at 5.30pm at the Ngaruawahia War Memorial Hall, and everyone’s welcome – friends, families and community.”

He says, “It’s free to enter and you’ll get full technical support. Just message us through our Embrace the Future facebook page and we’ll send an entry form and details.”

Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson says, “We’re really proud to support our Ngaruawahia youth with free use of the hall and projector, and vouchers for popcorn and prizes. This is a great initiative they’ve spearheaded with OMG Tech, and it would be fantastic if other sponsors in the community could step forward to provide whatever else our youth might need to help make this a real win for them.”

Entrants for the film festival are invited to a full weekend of brainstorming and filming based at the Ngaruawahia Community House from 13-15 July. They will get full technical support for free from OMG Tech – including use of smartphones, laptops and film editing support and advice.

Kawana Wallace of OMG Tech, who is based in Huntly, says, “We’re also putting up $500 worth of prizes and Grammy-style trophies for awards for Best Director, Best Editor, Best Actor and Actress and Special Effects – the full works.”

He says the company is supporting the youth short film festival thanks to funding from Te Puni Kokiri’s Ka Hao: Maaori Digital Technology Development Fund and sponsorship from Spark. This funding is also supporting a wider programme across six towns in the northern Waikato, including a 50-week game development course for 50 year 9 and 10 students in Huntly and Ngaruawahia.
To enter the film festival go to www.facebook.com/youthetf

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