25 March 2002
The achievement of the Lord of the Rings in winning four awards at this year's Academy Awards was terrific, Prime
Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark said today.
"It has been a fantastic year for the New Zealand film industry, highlighted by the massive commercial and critical
success of the Lord of the Rings.
“While Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings received thirteen Oscar nominations in total, there were also nominations
for New Zealanders Russell Crowe, for his role in A Beautiful Mind, and Andrew Adamson’s film Shrek, which he
co-directed.
"The Academy Awards have seen a number of New Zealand winners in recent years, with the likes of Russell Crowe, Anna
Paquin and Jane Campion.
"The awards today are further illustration of the expertise and skill of the film industry in New Zealand," Helen Clark
said.