NZ Company Triumphs at the Oscars

MEDIA ALERT: 27 February 2007

NZ Company Triumphs at the Oscars

Ewa Bigio, Managing Director of Smiley Films celebrated last night when The Blood of Yingzhou District took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short). Running NZ’s only independent film sales agency, Bigio signed up the worldwide distribution rights of this stunning documentary last year for its incredible and moving subject mater and artistry in filmmaking and storytelling. “I knew that this was one film that was going to make a lasting impression” says Bigio. Referring to Producer Thomas Lennon's reference to her as the "invisible friend" in the filmed backstage thank you speech which can be seen and heard at www.oscars.com, she adds “It’s not often that New Zealanders are mentioned in Oscar thank you speeches, and I am delighted to be included in such a prestigious group of film-makers and producers.”

This is a huge coup for Smiley Films who set up shop in 2005 competing head on with International Film Agents from Europe and the USA - whose closer proximity to the international film market has traditionally fended off any competition from Australasian film agents. In this tough international market it is a major achievement to represent a film that takes home an academy award – especially when the deal was struck prior to the announcement of an academy award nomination and subsequent win.

In September 2006, The Blood of Yingzhou District had its Australasian premiere in Auckland at the annual International Documentary Festival (the only one of its kind in Australasia.

The Blood of Yingzhou District is the memorable story of AIDS orphans in the rural province of Anhui, China. Its dramatic epicenter revolves around Gao Jun, the silent toddler and his search for a home. The haunting and spectacular film sequences shot mainly with small-format cameras by a Chinese crew and gifted Beijing cinematographer Qu Jiang Tao, achieve a level of intimacy and candor rarely seen in documentary work from China. The film is director Ruby Yang’s first and producer Thomas Lennon’s second Oscar nomination – the win being a first for both parties.

ENDS

www.smileyfilmdistribution.com

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