Kiwis to decide best NZ films at inaugural Visa Entertainment Screen Awards

Auckland, 22 November 2010
Celebrating home-grown film at its best, New Zealand movie lovers get the opportunity to have their say, voting for their favourite Kiwi films and other industry awards, in the inaugural Visa Entertainment Screen Awards. The Awards will be dished out at a star-studded ceremony on December 8th.

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Championing the awards is film guru Kate Rodger from TV3’s Reel Late with Kate who says honouring best practice in the New Zealand film industry has never been more important.

"Celebrating the New Zealand film industry and our unique Kiwi culture has always been a big part of our Reel Late with Kate mission, and what better way to do both, than with an annual awards night."

The Visa Entertainment Screen Awards feature 10 categories including: Best New Zealand Export Film, Best New Zealand Director, Best New Zealand Actress in a Film, Best New Zealand Actor in a Film and Best New Zealand Film.

Each awards category will be decided by a people’s choice system with voting open now at www.facebook.com/VisaEntertainment.

"The people vote at the Box Office with their wallets, and now they can back their favourites by having a say in their own screen awards," says Kate.

Charlotte Purdy, Executive Producer for Reel Late with Kate says ’we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the awards, which with the support of partner Visa Entertainment, will give Kiwis a voice on the best of the big screen.

“We thought it would be great to have the public vote for the winners and the industry is right behind us with actors and producers excited about awards that reflect what the real judges think... the viewers themselves.”

Nominations for the awards include:
Best Director – Niki Caro for The Vintners Luck, Gaylene Preston for Home by Christmas, Jonathan King for Under the Mountain, Taika Waititi for Boy
Best Actress – Chelsie Preston Crayford in Home by Christmas, Keisha Castle - Hughes in The Vintners Luck, Rose McIvor in The Lovely Bones, Melanie Lynskie in The Informant
Best Actor – Taika Waititi in Boy, James Rolleston in Boy, Sam Neill in Under the Mountain, Martin Henderson in Home by Christmas
Best NZ Film – Boy, Home by Christmas, Under the Mountain, The Vintners Luck
Best International Film – Inception, Animal Kingdom, Kick-Ass, Avatar
Best NZ Export Film – Sam Neill, Melanie Lynskey, Karl Urban, Temuera Morrison

ENDS

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