6 February 2014
Boutique Weekend for Tropfest NZ Logline Competition Winner
The winner of Tropfest NZ’s logline competition goes to passionate Hamilton film lover Yvette Shore with her entry:
A naïve young Maori priest serving in New York finds a pair of ornate designer women’s sunglasses has been left in one
of his confessional booths. Trying them on for a laugh he discovers that they allow him to see what his parishioners are
really thinking.
Yvette’s prize is two nights for two at New Plymouth’s luxury boutique accommodation The Nice Hotel, a $150 meal at the
property’s award-winning Table restaurant, and a VIP pass to attend Tropfest 2014.
“Winning the logline competition is absolutely brilliant,” Yvette exclaimed. “I’m really looking forward to attending
Tropfest.”
The judging panel of three comprised two industry professionals and one of the Tropfest NZ management. They agreed that
there were a number of excellent entries, but Yvette’s logline stood out as the most complete and intriguing idea for a
short film.
The source for the logline was pure creative inspiration. “The idea just popped into my head,” Yvette said. “I probably
could have written another 30.”
A graphic design professional running her own business, Yvette is a Waikato Film Society member with a long professional
and personal interest in writing. Although she has not pursued screenwriting until now, her win has inspired her to
learn more about it.
Tropfest NZ 2014 takes place 16 February in Taranaki at New Plymouth’s stunning outdoor venue TSB Bowl of Brooklands.
The 14 selected films and their filmmakers will vie for first prize, winning a five-day trip to Los Angeles to meet film
executives, sponsored by the New Zealand Screen Association and Motion Picture Association.
Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to Best Maori Director (thanks to Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Ngā Aho Whakaari, Te Puni
Kōkiri), Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Animated Film (Yoobee School of Design) and Best Use of Visual Effects (Yoobee
School of Design).
On the day prior to Tropfest, the all-day Roughcut film symposium will be held in downtown New Plymouth. Speakers will
include the international award-winning Australian ’pocket’ filmmaker Jason van Genderen, renowned New Zealand actors
Craig Hall and Stephen Hunter, and entertainment reporter Kate Rodger.
About Tropfest Roughcut
A Tropfest spin-off event, Roughcut was created to cultivate outstanding storytelling on screen and to foster a culture
of dynamic and creative filmmakers.
On Saturday 15 February, Roughcut will play host to a line-up of industry talent who will speak about the game changing
moments, jobs, choices, and knowledge that it takes to forge a successful career in the film industry.
Sharing their insights and film industry experience at this year’s Roughcut will be critically acclaimed New Zealand
actors Craig Hall and Stephen Hunter, award-winning Australian pocket filmmaker Jason van Genderen, independent
documentary maker Heather O’Leary, entertainment reporter Kate Rodger, entertainment lawyer, writer and producer Tim
Riley, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) Short Film Manager Whetu Fala, and screenwriter, playwright and NZFC
Development Executive Briar Grace-Smith.
Registration will be available from 9.30am on Saturday 15 February 2014 and the symposium will kick off at 10am with an
approximate end time of 4.30pm.
Roughcut has been made possible with financial assistance from the New Zealand Film Commission.
WHEN: Saturday 15 February 2014, 10am – 4.30pm
WHERE: 4th Wall Theatre, 11 Baring Tce, Strandon, New Plymouth
TICKETS: $28 pp, tickets on sale now at http://www.4thwalltheatre.co.nz
About Tropfest
Tropfest began in Sydney 22 years ago when director John Polson showed a six-minute film he made for under $100 at his
local café (‘The Tropicana’) in Sydney for 200 friends and family. Today the free Australian event is attended annually
by a live audience of around 150,000 film-lovers and hundreds of thousands more watching via its live national TV
broadcast and other platforms.
In the past two decades, Tropfest has become recognised as one of the world's most exciting launchpads for emerging
filmmakers. Tropfest is also known for securing the support of some of the biggest names in the international film
community including Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Geoffrey Rush, Liev Schreiber and Tobey Maguire.
Tropfest launched last year in New Zealand, Arabia and in the USA with Tropfest Las Vegas and Tropfest New York.
The Tropfest YouTube Channel. Past Finalist films can be viewed at Tropfest’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/tropfest. The channel has 45,920 subscribers and the films have been viewed more than 25,413,000 times.
The first Tropfest NZ event was held in 2012. In 2013 the Tropfest NZ competition began and was attended by 8,000
people. The winner was a short film called ‘Cappuccino Tango’, directed by Taranaki local Dave Smith.
TROPFEST NZ – The world’s largest short film festival, now in New Zealand – 16 February 2014, Taranaki.
ENDS