University of Auckland graduate awarded a BAFTA

University of Auckland graduate awarded a BAFTA

University of Auckland Screen Production alumna Kimberley Hikaka has won a BAFTA as co-producer of the multiple award winning serial The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies.

The two-part ITV drama is based on the events following the murder of Joanna Yeates who was found dead on Christmas Day 2010 in Bristol. Filmed in Bristol and aired in the UK late last year, it followed the story of retired school master Christopher Jefferies, who was Joanna’s landlord and arrested after her body was discovered.

Mr Jefferies was later completely cleared and won libel actions against a number of national newspapers for the articles they ran subsequent to his arrest. He also later gave evidence at the UK’s Leveson Enquiry into culture, practices and ethics of the British press.

In addition to the BAFTA for best drama serial, the programme was also awarded two other BAFTAs, one for best actor for Jason Watkin’s portrayal of Christopher Jefferies and the other for cinematography.

Kimberley says working on the film was a powerful and moving experience.

“The sensitivity with which everyone approached the telling of not only Christopher’s story, but by virtue of same the story of Joanna Yeates, from script to screen, was remarkably graceful in my opinion.

“I think everyone on the show from writer to runner had utmost respect for what really mattered which was reflected in the way we went about making the programme and I believe in what you see on screen.”

Kimberley became co-producer of the series as she was Head of Production at Carnival Films at the time and executive producer Gareth Neame, director Roger Michell and producer Kevin Loader agreed her talents were suited to the role.

“I have always loved stories that challenge us to think about who we are and how we behave - social commentary, if you will. That's why The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies particularly appealed to me. It was a story worth telling for exactly those reasons.”

Kimberley completed a Masters in Creative and Performing Arts (Creative Producing) at the University’s Faculty of Arts from 2002 – 2006. From Ngā Ruahine in the Taranaki, she was awarded a scholarship as part of the Maori Graduate Scholarship Programme. She is still particularly thankful to director and writer Vanessa Alexander, who was the course lecturer at the time, and has remained a friend and advisor in her career.

“University provided me with an environment where I could try out the different elements of filmmaking without being pigeon-holed straight away, which is often the challenge you face if you go straight into employment.

Kimberley wasn’t able to attend the awards ceremony recently held in London, as she’s currently in Africa on her first stint with Medecins Sans Frontieres on an emergency project for a cholera outbreak in Malawi, but that didn’t dilute her excitement to receive the award.

“I was delighted at the news and lovely emails received – even more so to receive the news here in rural Malawi rather than in heels on the South Bank.

“Part of the experience of working on The Lost Honour served as a reminder to spend my time wisely in life and that it is important I do something I really care about on a daily basis – whether that be in telling stories I care about or by contributing back to society and those who do not have the same freedom of choice in life that I have been so lucky to have.”

She plans to return to London in the next few months before taking up another Medecins Sans Frontieres placement later in the year. But she’s not ruling out a return to film.

“For the time being it’s humanitarian work, but I think the two could be complementary so at some point, ideally both!”

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