Film and TV: International Achievement Finalists

Media release
3 September 2009

Qantas Film And Television Awards
Inaugural International Achievement Award Finalists Announced

The finalists in the inaugural New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) International Achievement Award, part of this year’s Qantas Film and Television Awards, were announced today.

The finalists are Natural History New Zealand, South Pacific Pictures and Flux Animation Studio.

The award is designed to recognise a business in the New Zealand film and television industries which demonstrates both commercial success in the international business arena and a commitment to developing a business model that is capable of further international expansion.

Nominations were received from nine businesses and the judging panel of New Zealand Film Commission chief executive Graeme Mason, acclaimed New Zealand film director Andrew Adamson, Screen Directors Guild executive director Anna Cahill and Television Broadcasters’ Council Rick Friesen had the challenge of narrowing the finalists down to three.

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Mr Friesen said that the range of businesses that had entered reflected the tremendous breadth of the industries and the ability of relatively small businesses to break into some large markets.

“This is the first time that we have acknowledged this kind of business success at the awards and it is genuinely inspiring to have an opportunity to look into what drives the success of some of the incredible talent that exists here,” Mr Friesen said.

The NZTE award will be presented by Prime Minister Hon John Key at the Qantas Film and Television Awards ceremony in the Civic Theatre, Auckland, on Saturday night.

The Qantas Film and Television Awards programme is jointly organised by the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand and the New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council.

More information about the award can be found at the awards website www.qantasfilmandtvawardsco.nz.

About the NZTE International Achievement Award finalists

Flux Animation Studio
Flux Animation Studio is an award-winning character animation specialist that can take a project from script to completion. The Auckland-based company has earned a respected local and international profile over the past decade, and today Flux’s owners and staff look back on its humble beginnings with a sense of pride and affection.
Animator and cartoonist Brent Chambers established the company in 1997, working from a basement garage in central Auckland, and it now employs a core team of 23 permanent staff and many more contractors.
Flux has produced 10 series for New Zealand television, including Tamatoa, Artoonz, Puzzle Inc and The Adventures of Massey Ferguson, and more recently international co-production Staines Down Drains and Master Raindrop.

Natural History New Zealand
NHNZ is a global company based in New Zealand with offices in Beijing and Washington DC, and majority ownership of Singapore-based production company Beach House Pictures. NHNZ is a major supplier to National Geographic Channels, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, A & E Television Networks, Travel Channel as well as major broadcasters NHK (Japan), PBS (US) and France 5.
From cutting-edge science and engineering to daring adventures and fascinating cultures, NHNZ documentaries aim to entertain and enthral, inform and inspire. The company has won close to 200 international awards including Emmy Awards and a prestigious Wildscreen Panda.

South Pacific Pictures
South Pacific Pictures has an international reputation for producing world-class television and film. The company celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2008 and to date has produced around 3000 hours of programming. Drama series and serials, feature films, and more recently, entertainment, reality programming and documentaries are all part of the programming mix. The current slate includes work for New Zealand, Australian, Canadian and UK broadcasters.
The West Auckland-based company is known in New Zealand for producing and range of acclaimed TV shows, including Shortland Street, NZ Idol and Outrageous Fortune, and films Whale Rider and What Became of the Broken Hearted?

About the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand
The Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand (SDGNZ) represents New Zealand directors and editors. The guild creates a forum where creatives can define, defend and further their professional industry. The SDGNZ is dedicated to the artistic excellence, employment opportunities and economic wellbeing of its members.

About the New Zealand Television Broadcasters’Council
The New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council is an industry organisation representing the non-competitive interests of free-to-air television broadcasters in New Zealand. The members are MediaWorks TV, Television New Zealand and Maori Television.

ENDS

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