The winners of three prestigious SPADA (Screen Production & Development Association) Awards were announced at the SPADA Conference in Wellington on Friday 16 November. SPADA Independent Producer of the Year went to Melanie Rakena and Jane Andrews of Jam TV, producers of Intrepid Journeys, Ice and Off The Rails. Summer Agnew picked up SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year, and sound recordist Dick Reade won the SPADA/Onfilm Industry Champion Award.Summer Agnew's documentary film Minginui has screened in local and international festivals. In 2006 he directed the first series of Let's Get Inventin', which won the Qantas New Zealand Television Award for Best Children's & Youth Show 2006. He is currently in post-production for his first drama, a short film called Patu Ihu. He has also made a number of music videos for the likes of Die Die Die, Sola Rosa, David Yetton, Dimmer and The Checks.

The SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award honours emerging New Zealand filmmakers who have displayed excellence, special talent and creativity in their filmmaking to date and has over $28,000 worth of prizes attached.

Dick Reade, recognised as a generous and humble supporter of the NZ film and television industry, has also been responsible for training and inspiring many sound recording and engineering professionals. His creativity as a sound recordist and mixer has been heard on a great many productions including The Maori Merchant of Venice, The Navigator and Feathers of Peace. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2006 for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Music and Sound for Bugging with Ruud for Animal Planet.

19/11/07