Tabulations are complete and the calculators have done their business for the 2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards, with a total of 637 entries being received. And while it’s two down on last year’s total, the award organisers feel it is a clear indication of the continuing “strength and resilience of New Zealand’s film and television industries”.More than 80 judges will be judging entries to name the finalists in 61 award categories across News and Current Affairs, General Television, Documentary and Film. An the finalists will be announced early August.
Once again, the categories are grouped into three specialist areas and each is chaired by an independent industry leader. And the winners are: Paul Norris, Head of School, New Zealand Broadcasting School will chair of News and Current Affairs judges; Helene Wong, film critic and consultant will chair the Film panels; and Richard Driver, owner and programmer of the Documentary Channel, will chair of the General Television and Broadcasting panels.
This year, for the first time, the judging panel will be brought together at the end of the month for a naughty judges’ weekend in Auckland, which will allow them to go through their scores together and review the entries in order to select the best offerings from across the industry.
“Enabling the judges to come together to confer and debate the entries is an important step in continuing to raise the bar on recognising the calibre of our film and television industries,” says Rick Friesen, New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council chief executive and organising committee co-chair.
Fellow co-chair Anna Cahill, executive director of the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand, says “it’s great to see the industries producing such a healthy number of entries that highlight the depth of the talent that exists in New Zealand film and television”.
The awards’ programme is jointly organised by the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand and the New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council. And the awards (including highlights from the Craft Awards, which will be announced during an awards luncheon at the Auckland Town Hall on Friday 17 September) will be presented at an evening ceremony at the Civic Theatre on Saturday 18 September
TVNZ completely dominated the NCA category last year and Toa Fraser’s Dean Spanley nabbed a good haul of gongs too. Check out the resident Herald gossipmonger’s take on last year’s awards here. And for a full list of categories, entry criteria and information please visit the Qantas Film and Television Awards website www.qantasfilmandtelevisionawards.co.nz.
