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V48Hours opens for 2012 business, founder Timpson rewarded for years of creative toil

Creative types in adland who drink too much V will be overjoyed to learn that registrations are now open for the tenth V48HOURS Furious Filmmaking competition. And, in what could be seen as rather serendipitous timing, the event’s founder and self-confessed filmhead Ant Timpson was this week chosen as the Creative Entrepreneur of 2012 by the Arts Regional Trust.

“V48HOURS is the craziest thing,” says Tom Furniss, team leader of 2011’s winning team, Grand Cheval.  “There you are, with Dad’s digital camera, a group of your mates, and a crate of V. You laugh heaps, some of you cry, but you make the film, win the bloody competition and get heaps of chicks because you’re famous now.  And eventually you end up spending Christmas at Peter Jackson’s ranch. Well, we’re still waiting for that call.”

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Starting in 2003 with just 44 teams, the competition has grown into an iconic event for budding and professional filmmakers, many of whom ply their trade in the persuasive arts, and now has an impressive list of sponsors like TVNZ U, The Edge, the New Zealand Film Commission, Rialto Channel, Wingnut Films, Media Design School, Images and Sound, Flicks, Envy Studios, Niche Cameras, Unitec, and Park Road Post Production. 2011 saw over 10,000 participants from 780 teams get amongst the action around the country.

“I’m pretty proud of what the competition has achieved in the last 10 years,” says Ant Timpson.  “The relationships that have formed amongst competitors and the impact those relationships have had on the New Zealand film and television industry is huge.  A weekend of insane fun can create the foundations for future TV series and feature films to be built from.”

The shoot weekend commences Friday 18th May – Sunday 20th May and this year’s regions include Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Long-time supporter Sir Peter Jackson will do the honours as Wildcard judge, seeing his favourites into the Grand Final.

As for Timpson, he picked up a $10,000 cash prize for his Creative Entreprenuer award and was recognised for 25 years spent encouraging and enabling Kiwis to watch, make and love movies.

As well as V48Hours, he is also the founder of the Incredibly Strange Film Festival, 2Brothers films, Secret Cinema, Cinema Circus and Make My Movie.

“Ant has ‘flicked a switch’ for a generation of filmmakers,” says judge Jennifer Ward-Lealand. “What Ant does through the 48HOURS – Furious Filmmaking Competition is groundbreaking, and can be life-changing for those who take part in it. He makes filmmaking achievable, literally bringing it into your lounge, making filmmaking possible for anyone and everyone. You can really see the reach that Ant has achieved through his work. The results and legacy are tangible.”

Fellow judge Alex Swney said he was impressed by Timpson’s “incredible entrepreneurial spirit”.

“Ant is always looking for the possibilities; he’s an innovator, an instigator and a ‘cage rattler’. He works the angles to make things happen, and through his passion and great projects he has found ways to maximise and grow involvement in movies from the grassroots up.”

Timpson’s reaction?

“Apart from coming second in an egg and spoon race in 1975, this is really my first award. It means a lot to receive it. To be honest, I think the award is simply recognition of the talent base we have in this country and that many times all it required was a platform or structure to blossom. I exploited this neglect and am both stoked and surprised that others see real benefits in these events too.”

Another 12 creative entrepreneurs—Celia Harrison, Ella Mizrahi, Kristina Hard, Kyra Clark, Margaret-Mary Hollins, Marshall Smith, Sally Greer, Sarah Graham, Shirley Allan, Tamati Patuwai, Te Rongo Kirkwood, Tim Bray—were celebrated at the gala event at Auckland’s Floating Pavilion and awarded a place worth up to $35,000 on the year-long creative enterprise accelerator programme ART Venture.

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