Take Two. NZ Screen Awards 2006 Calls for Entries

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Take Two. New Zealand Screen Awards 2006 Calls for Entries.

For those who missed out on the honours at last year’s inaugural New Zealand Screen Awards, we have some good news. The country’s premier film and television awards are back and taking entries for 2006 now.

The Awards, highly anticipated by the industry and led by the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand (SDGNZ), enjoyed an outstanding response in year one, and with another two categories added to the format this year (bringing the total number to 50), a who’s who of the industry is expected to enter.

SDGNZ President Dan Salmon says The New Zealand Screen Awards 2006 is a fantastic opportunity for all contributions, big and small, to be formally recognised and judged at the highest levels.

“We have continued our process of consultation with the industry to ensure The New Zealand Screen Awards 2006 build upon the inaugural success and adequately reflect the best achievements of New Zealand film and television, and the types of production and performance that includes,” he says

“It felt incredibly empowering last year to watch our industry honour its best contributions to craft and creativity. And what a winners list! In My Father’s Den, The Insiders Guide to Happiness, Bro’Town, Brad McGann, Colin Moy, Jodie Rimmer – to name a few. These are international quality productions and people and it’s fantastic to recognise them locally.”

The industry will have until May 26 this year to complete their entries, with official judging commencing immediately after the cut-off date. A five-person judging panel, appointed from a range of experienced industry professionals, will decide each category.

The Awards received more than 450 entries in 2005 and Dan Salmon says the quality of entries was outstanding and expected to be so again this year. But with 50 categories to be decided this year, don’t expect any easy wins.

“This is about honouring the best achievements of member industries and home-grown productions with a focus on craft and creativity, not about handing out awards by default. Judging will be tough but that’s how awards maintain credibility over the long term,” he says.

Finalists will be announced at a special event in Auckland on August 1, 2006, and the New Zealand Screen Awards 2006 ceremony will take place in Auckland on Thursday, August 24.

To download an entry form or to gather more information including lists of the 2006 Award categories, please visit the official website, www.sdgnz.co.nz (click on the Awards tab).

ENDS

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