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New Zealand to Make Waves at the 2010 ATOM Awards…

Create. Inspire. Celebrate – ATOM Awards

MELBOURNE – Monday 18 October, 2010 – For most of us, climate change is out there. We know it is happening, but our lives have not yet been heavily impacted by the ever looming forces of the environment. ‘There Once was an Island: Te Henua e Nnoho’ an ATOM Awards Finalist in the Best Documentary General category introduces us to the Polynesian community of Takuu , a group of people living on a tiny low-lying atoll in the South Western Pacific faced with the devastating effects of climate change. In short, they are watching helplessly as their home is slowly being washed away by tidal floods.

Briar March and Lyn Collie from New Zealand production company, ‘On the Level Productions’ spent four years in production on ‘There Once was an Island’, including three months living with the Takuu community. Briar and Lyn take us into the lives and hearts of three of the islanders - Teloo, Endar and Satty - in this emotionally ‘real’ film about lives in peril, helplessness and isolation.

‘There Once was an Island’ shows us first hand the true human impact of an environmental crisis and subtlety induces viewers to share in the anger, fear and helplessness felt by the community as they realise the true nature of the choices with which they are faced – do they stay on their ‘sinking’ island home or adapt to life as a mainlander?

The Takuu community invites two scientists - oceanographer John Hunter and geomorphologist Scott Smithers - to investigate their plight and consider the impact that climate change is having on a community that exists without access to the resources or support they need to manage their situation.

Intimate observational scenes enable Teloo, Endar and Satty to take us on their personal journeys as they each consider whether to move to an uncertain mainland future in Bougainville or to stay and fight for their home as it is gradually destroyed.

To find out more about ‘There Once was an Island: Te Henua e Nnoho’, visit www.thereoncewasanisland.com

The 2010 ATOM Awards will be presented at a gala ceremony, held in the Plaza Ballroom, Regent Theatre, Melbourne on Friday 22 October, 2010.

The 2010 ATOM Awards program is presented by the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM).

The 2010 ATOM Awards is sponsored and supported by Sustainability Victoria, Aurora Community Channel, EnhanceTV, Roadshow Films, Madman, Encore Magazine, Griffith University, Holmesglen, SAE Institute, Qantm, Deakin University, Scotch College, AFTRS, Federation Square Melbourne, ScreenHub, Nikoda, Quest Collins Street Central, Wide Angle, Qpix, iZDOT, Metro Magazine, Screen Education Magazine, Open Channel, Northbridge Piazza - City of Perth, Screen West, I.D.E.A and Big Mouth Marketing Communications.

The 2010 ATOM Awards is funded by Screen Australia, Arts NSW, Film Victoria and the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Victorian Government and the South Australian Film Corporation.

For more information about the 2010 ATOM Awards please visit www.atomawards.org

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About the ATOM Awards
The ATOM Awards were established in 1982 by the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) - an independent, non-profit association promoting media education and screen literacy in primary, secondary and tertiary education and the broader community.

The ATOM Awards annually recognise excellence in over thirty categories of Film, Television, Animation and Multimedia and celebrate the very best of Australian and New Zealand production.

The 2010 ATOM Awards were open to the education and industry sectors, students, production companies, independent filmmakers, educational bodies and educational producers in both countries.

Using the 2010 ATOM Awards, ATOM publications and ATOM Professional Development Victoria, ATOM is actively engaged in the promotion of Australian product into the education and industry market. As such, the ATOM Awards are unique in their incorporation of the educational market with the broader industry.

The combination of student and professional awards not only allows the 2010 ATOM Awards to provide all-important early career exposure and experience for emerging professionals, but also provides promotional opportunities for winners and finalists.

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