Maori Television is running a short film competition to encourage all New Zealanders to tell their own ANZAC stories on film and have them broadcast as part of the channels all-day broadcast on 25th April 2008.

The winners will also have a unique opportunity to talk live on air about their successful entry at 9pm on the Friday.

Filmmaker Ainsley Gardiner (producer or Two Cars One Night, Tama Tu and Eagle vs Shark) and Te Arepa Kahi (director of The Speaker and Taua) will host the ANZAC short film festival.Maori Television is running a short film competition to encourage all New Zealanders to tell their own ANZAC stories on film and have them broadcast as part of the channels all-day broadcast on 25th April 2008.

The winners will also have a unique opportunity to talk live on air about their successful entry at 9pm on the Friday.

Filmmaker Ainsley Gardiner (producer or Two Cars One Night, Tama Tu and Eagle vs Shark) and Te Arepa Kahi (director of The Speaker and Taua) will host the ANZAC short film festival.The competition is open to all people of all ages, backgrounds and points of view. It could be an interview with a veteran or a story taken from a photo or a diary; the limit is your imagination.

Successful individuals or teams in three categories will be brought to Maori Television's Auckland studio to receive their awards and prize packs and to be interviewed about their winning work before its first official screening.

The competition - in part sponsored by Te Puni Kokiri - encourages all New Zealanders, at home or abroad, to re-tell their own ANZAC stories on film. It is open to tamariki or children (production roles filled by children in Year 8 or below, with adult advisors and/or supervision); rangatahi or youth (key production roles filled by teenagers in Years 9-13); and all ages (targeting tertiary students and all New Zealanders over the age of 18).

Entries should be no longer than 5 minutes and sent to Maori TV on Mini DV, DVcam or DVD by 28th March.

The first place prize packs include:

TAMARIKI OR CHILDREN (up to and including Year 8): Professional camera kit: HDRHC9E Sony Handicam, batteries (2), UV filter, microphone, bag, tapes and battery charger - supplied by A2Z; five copies of Harper-Collins Publishers' 'Soldier in a Yellow Sock' by Janice Marriot; Maori Television merchandise; Water Safety New Zealand merchandise; and movie tickets.

RANGATAHI OR YOUTH (Year 9-13) and ALL AGES (18 and over): Professional camera kit: HDRHC9E Sony Handicam, batteries (2), UV filter, microphone, bag, tapes and battery charger - supplied by A2Z; an annual subscription to Onfilm magazine and the industry must-have Databook; invaluable filmmaking 'bible' - 'Kodak's Essential Reference Guide for Film Makers'; five copies of Harper-Collins Publishers' 'Best and Bravest' or 'In the Face of the Enemy' - both by Glyn Harper and Colin Richardson; Maori Television merchandise; Water Safety New Zealand merchandise; and movie tickets.

The runner-up prize packs include:
TAMARIKI OR CHILDREN (up to and including Year 8): Five copies of Harper-Collins Publishers' 'Soldier in a Yellow Sock' by Janice Marriot; Water Safety New Zealand merchandise; Maori Television merchandise; and movie tickets.
RANGATAHI OR YOUTH (Year 9-13) and ALL AGES (18 and over): An annual subscription to Onfilm magazine and the industry must-have Databook; invaluable filmmaking 'bible' - 'Kodak's Essential Reference Guide for Film Makers'; five copies of Harper-Collins Publishers' 'Best and Bravest' or 'In the Face of the Enemy' - both by Glyn Harper and Colin Richardson; Maori Television merchandise; Water Safety New Zealand merchandise; and movie tickets.

In another new development, Woodcut Productions has made a selection of New Zealand music in a wide range of genres available for exclusive use in the competition free of charge. Ainsley Gardiner and Tearepa Kahi say the music is a fantastic tool for budding filmmakers looking for ways to enhance the mood and story of their ANZAC short films. For details of the track list and to make requests, email anzacday@maoritelevision.com.

Entries should be no more than five minutes long and must be submitted on DVD, DVCAM or mini DV tape by Friday March 28 at 5.30 PM. All entries will be viewed by a panel of experts and the winning films will be broadcast on Maori Television during A TATOU TAONGA: ANZAC DAY 2008 on Friday April 25. Entry forms and full details are available from Maori Television's website www.maoritelevision.com or email anzacday@maoritelevision.com for further information.

Text ANZAC to 3553 (text messages cost 20c each) to book your 5.45 AM wake-up text on ANZAC Day.

19/03/08