Entries for Nescafé Short Film Awards Close Soon

ATTENTION ALL YOU CREATIVE TYPES

Entries for Nescafé Short Film Awards Close Next Month

Interest in this year's trans-Tasman NesCAFé Short Film Awards is rapidly mounting with over thirty percent of entry form requests coming from New Zealand filmmakers.

Calls to Nestlé's hotline and e-mail submissions from the website have resulted in thousands of entry kits being sent out to the next wave of Peter Jackson's and Harry Sinclair's.

Entries close on July 16 2001 and winners will be announced on September 25 2001.

A spokesperson for Nestlé New Zealand says when you consider the population differences between the two countries it's fantastic that so much interest has been received from New Zealand filmmakers.

Last year the NesCAFé Short Film Awards were made into a trans-Tasman programme, and a New Zealander, Armagan Ballantyne, won top honours for her short film 'Little Echo Lost', which goes to show the high level of talent we have in this country.

The spokesperson said all fingers will be crossed for a New Zealand victory this year as well.

With a total of AUS$40,000 in cash and prizes, as well as a great new opportunity for student filmmakers, 2001 is going to be an exciting year for the NesCAFé Short Film Awards. The awards are open to Australians and New Zealanders and over the last three years more than AUS$135,000 has been won by innovative filmmakers. There are both Open and Student categories.

This year's Student category is different in that first prize will give an up and coming student filmmaker the chance to make a new film, with Nestlé picking up the tab! The winner will also be provided access to the advice of an experienced writer/director enabling them to make industry contacts that could give them a real head start to a career in filmmaking.

Each year the films are judged by well known directors, writers and actors. Last year the panel was made up of Pia Miranda, star of Australian film 'Looking for Alibrandi', Christina Andreef, writer/director of 'Soft Fruit' and New Zealand's very own Robert Sarkies, the acclaimed writer/director of 'Scarfies'. The 2001 NesCAFé Short Film Awards judging panel will be announced later this year.

Films can be up to 12 minutes in length, on any original format, including video and there are no theme requirements or entry fees. It's easy to enter, so get those films rolling in, and have a shot at winning prizes and screenings.

Entry forms are now available online at http://www.nestle.co.nz or by calling the hotline on 0800 430 043.

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