Film Scholarships To Emerging Maori Talent

Film Scholarships To Emerging Maori Talent

Four talented recipients this month received the Inaugural Wairoa Maori Film Scholarships 2005, each receiving $2,222 toward their film, television or multimedia careers. The Scholarships were presented by Te Roopu Whakaata Maori I Te Wairoa - Wairoa Maori Film Festival Inc. after being publicly advertised earlier this year. Funding for the scholarships was made possible by Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development. The four recipients of the scholarships were:

- Sharon Jane for Wairoa Primary School. Sharon Jane is of Rongomaiwahine descent, and applied as an individual on behalf of Wairoa Primary School. Wairoa Primary School is promoting and fostering an interest in film making for the students at their school, and they intend to enter the Wairoa Maori Film Festival in 2006. Wairoa Primary hopes to continue making local films based on children's interests.

- Rowena Hawea Harvey, of Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Raukawa descent. Rowena Hawea Harvey is the Executive Producer, Film Programmer, and Founder of the Drifting Clouds International Film Festival, a short film festival which has occurred annually since 2000. Drifting Clouds offers the largest film prize in New Zealand. Rowena Hawea Harvey will continue working as an emerging film maker developing her own scripts and films, including in Te Reo Maori.

- Stacey Taylor is of Whakatohea Iwi Descent, Ngatingahere and Ngaitama subtribes, and is currently enrolled at South Seas Film & Television, where she is completing a Diploma in Film & Television. Stacey Taylor hopes to make a Maori documentary or short film, and her dream is to work in a position at Maori Television.

- Pere Taunoa Durie is of Ngati Porou, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Kauwhata and Kai Tahu descent, and has been involved in film making for over five years. In 2000 Pere Taunoa Durie completed a media and communications degree, primarily looking at film. The following year he also gained a teaching degree and has since taught media studies and film making. In 2001, Pere Durie completed his first film script and has since completed five further scripts. Pere Durie sees all of his projects as not only distinctly Maori in production, but also in content.

ENDS

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