Hollywood beckons for Tropfest NZ winner

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MEDIA RELEASE 11 May, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hollywood beckons for Tropfest NZ winner

An incredible opportunity to spend five nights in Los Angeles (LA) is the prize being offered to the winning director of the 2012 Tropfest New Zealand short film competition.

The first prize package has been put up by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and The New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft (NZFACT).

"With return economy airfares, five night's accommodation, $500 spending money to cover transfers, meals and cabs, the prize is an unbeatable incentive for a Kiwi director to enter this year's competition" says Suzanne Porter, chief executive of the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) - the organisers of Tropfest NZ.

"Tropfest is all about giving filmmakers opportunities to be seen, heard, and appreciated so they can develop their filmmaking career," says Ms. Porter.

"Entering Tropfest New Zealand will expose our filmmakers to an appreciative, international audience!"

The deadline for entries is November 30, with the finalist films to be screened, and the winning film announced, on Sunday, January 27, at an outdoor event at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, in New Plymouth.

To enter, filmmakers must follow five simple criteria:
The film must be made specifically for Tropfest, the film must be no longer than seven minutes including titles and credits, Tropfest New Zealand 2013 must be the film's first public screening (including online), entrants must be New Zealand citizens or residents and the film must contain the Tropfest Signature Item - "Gumboot".

NZFACT's Managing Director, Tony Eaton, said: "This will be a fantastic opportunity for the winner to showcase their talent on the big stage - sometimes an artist just needs this kind of break to get ahead.

"We're thrilled to be involved and helping make this opportunity happen. Our local film industry supports more than 22,000 highly skilled local jobs that contribute to showcasing New Zealand as a creative powerhouse within the global film industry," Mr Eaton said.

The New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft was established by the Motion Picture Association to protect the film industry in New Zealand from the adverse impact of copyright theft.

Its members include Village Roadshow Limited; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, New Zealand; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Releasing International Corporation; Twentieth Century Fox International Corporation; Universal International Films, Inc.; and Warner Bros. Pictures International, a division of Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.

The dates for the LA trip should be planned to take place within three months of the announcement of Tropfest New Zealand winner. Entry criteria details are available from the competition's dedicated website www.tropfest.co.nz.

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