New York Film Award for This is New Zealand

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Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand

3 February 2007 Media statement

New York Film Award for This is New Zealand

The film made for Expo 70 in Japan, This Is New Zealand, remastered by Archives New Zealand has won a prestigious award at the New York Festivals Film and Video Competition, Archives Minister Judith Tizard announced today.

"I'm delighted that the film took out a Bronze World Medal in the festival’s special venue film section at tonight’s ceremony in New York,” says Judith Tizard. "Rosemary Banks, New Zealand’s Ambassador to the United Nations accepted the award on our behalf.

“This award is a great credit to all those involved in both the making and recent remastering of the film.

“Made by the National Film Unit for the New Zealand Commission promotion at Expo ’70 in Osaka, the original This is New Zealand has not been available for public viewing for over 30 years because three projectors were required to screen it."

Archives New Zealand has restored and remastered the film at Wellington's Park Road Post Production facility so the three images can now be screened using one projector. The process used was digital intermediate where the original film is scanned, digitally manipulated and then put back on to film. The film is also available digitally.

“Previous attempts to create a combined film image using traditional optical methods suffered a severe drop in quality when combining three images into one.

“We brought back the original director, Hugh Macdonald, who helped oversee the digital intermediate process. Kit Rollings, the original sound mixer, also worked on the new sound track."

Judith Tizard said the film was seen by 2 million people during its time at the Osaka Expo’70 and on its return home it was seen by nearly 25% of adult New Zealanders.

“Having the film re-mastered is a great preservation success and as a result New Zealanders can see the film following the official New Zealand premiere in March.”

Contacts: Hazel Dobbie, Press Secretary, 021 227 9871, hazel.dobbie@parliament.govt.nz
Or Hugh Macdonald (original Director), 04 934 9061 or 027 445 9388

Background to the New York Festivals

- The New York Festivals is an International Awards Group now in its 50th year recognising the world’s best work in advertising and programming.

- Entries are judged by panels of international experts who are recognised in their respective fields. A preliminary round of judging produces finalist winners and a further round of judging determines the bronze, silver and gold awards.

- Since 1990 the New York Festivals has established Nation Awards to honour programming and advertising that best exemplifies the ideals of the United Nations. Global concerns of particular interest include peace and the advancement of women, social development, health issues and the fight against poverty.

- This is New Zealand won the bronze medal for the festival’s moving image hybrid section – special venue film.

Ends