Taut, Violent Drama Takes Top Film Award

YOUTHTOWN FILMWORKS

For release: 14 August 2007

Taut, Violent Drama Takes Top Film Award

"Fourth time lucky" for Youthtown Short Film Challenge Winners

A taut, violent and realistic drama, based on this year's Virginia Tech shootings in the United States, has carried off the 'Best Film' Award at the annual Youthtown Film Challenge.

Entitled simply 'A Film', the winning entry is the work of a group of current and former students from Auckland Grammar School, operating under the name of 'Halcyon Entertainment'.

The same motion picture also picked up awards for 'Best Original Musical Score' and 'Best Editing' at Monday night's award ceremony at Auckland's the Academy Cinemas.

"It's fourth time lucky for us, as we've been involved in the Youthtown Film Challenge since it started in 2004. We've gained quite a few awards over the years but winning 'Best Film' is a different level of success and reflects on the skills of our entire team, "says Director, Nick Burridge.

"This win is particularly sweet, as some of us will be too old to compete again next year, given that the contest is only open to people in the thirteen to eighteen age-band," he adds.

'A Film' was shot largely in the English Block at Auckland Grammar School and shows the impact of a lone gunman on students and teachers alike. A particularly memorable scene is based around the heroic but doomed defence of his pupils by an elderly professor, played by Alex Kirch.

"We haven't followed the events at Virginia Tech this April with total exactitude. But I think we've been true to the essence of what occurred, "says Nick Burridge

"Our film is an act of homage to the victims and seeks to pose questions not just about America's gun culture but about the broader currents of violence in society, including here in New Zealand.

"Like most of the other contestants, our team has a lot of respect for the Youthtown Short Film Challenge. It's got better every year and we've all been inspired to lift our game considerably. The Challenge is now a recognised testing ground for young filmmakers, a chance for them to get their work out there and be seen by like-minded people," he says.

Competition judge, Lara Macgregor, who handed out last night's awards, describes the quality of some of the Film Challenge's entries as "simply astonishing".

The director, actor and drama coach, who has recently returned home after 12 years working in the United States and Australia, says that filmmaking now has a much higher profile in New Zealand.

"There's so much energy and enthusiasm behind our film industry nowadays and it's great to see young New Zealanders responding to this stimulus and producing such amazing work.

"If young people here want to make a film, they're unlikely to have resources falling into their laps, as can happen in the United States. But young Kiwi filmmakers tend to make up for any lack of funds with creativity and determination. They seem to just get out there and do it!" she says.

As winner of the Best Film award, the Halcyon Entertainments team has received a seventeen inch 'iMac' Intel Computer, supplied by Harvey Norman, Wairau Road.

Thomas King, who won the 'Best Director' award for his film, 'Govinda', is to be granted a free place on an 'Introduction to Television Production' course at the Southseas Film and Television School,a renowned testing-ground for new cinematic talent.

Places on the course have also been awarded to 'Best Actor' Saquib Ahmed, who appeared in a semi-autobiographical comedy role in a film entitled 'Saquib' and to Sabrina Tavalu, who won the 'Best Actress' award for her searing portrayal in 'Cooked' of a young woman who colludes unknowingly in the killing of her baby brother, whilst under the influence of drugs.

The 2007 Youthtown Short Film Challenge was the first to attract films from beyond Auckland, including entries from Wellington and Christchurch.

"It's been gratifying to have entrants from around the country. It vindicates our belief in this contest's ability to inspire creative young people, some of whom will want to make careers for themselves in our film industry and others of whom will become skilled amateurs," says Youthtown's Executive Director, Keith Thorpe.

Mr Thorpe adds that Youthtown's role is to help young people express themselves, develop skills and build self-esteem.

"This can take the form of sport, outdoor adventure, social activities or the arts, including learning what to do either in front of or behind a film camera," he says.

ends

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