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Ant Timpson, a self-confessed ‘filmhead’ who has spent over 25 years encouraging and enabling kiwis to watch, make and love movies, has tonight been awarded the inaugural ART Creative Entrepreneur of 2012 at a gala event at Auckland’s Floating Pavilion.

Initiated by the Arts Regional Trust (ART) and sponsored by Hynds Group of Companies, the Award brings with it a $10,000 cash award and most importantly recognition for the countless hours of hard graft and determination that Ant Timpson has put in to spark the imaginations of and provide opportunities for many thousands of movie goers, filmbuffs and aspiring filmmakers.

It was this single-mindedness, passion and determination that prompted the ART Creative Entrepreneur 2012 Award judges Alex Swney and Jennifer Ward-Lealand to select Ant as the 2012 Award recipient.

“Ant has ‘flicked a switch’ for a generation of filmmakers,” says Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

“What Ant does through the 48HOURS - Furious Filmmaking Competition is groundbreaking, and can be life-changing for those who take part in it. He makes filmmaking achievable, literally bringing it into your lounge, making filmmaking possible for anyone and everyone. You can really see the reach that Ant has achieved through his work. The results and legacy are tangible,” she says.

Fellow judge Alex Swney agrees, and adds that he is impressed with Ant’s “Incredible entrepreneurial spirit”.

“Ant is always looking for the possibilities; he’s an innovator, an instigator and a ‘cage rattler’! He works the angles to make things happen, and through his passion and great projects, including the Incredibly Strange film festival and ‘Make My Movie, he has found ways to maximise and grow involvement in movies from the grassroots up,” he says.

Ant’s reaction to winning the ART Creative Entrepreneur 2012 Award was typically modest.

“Apart from coming second in an egg and spoon race in 1975 this is really my first award. It means a lot to receive it. To be honest, I think the award is simply recognition of the talent base we have in this country and that many times all it required was a platform or structure to blossom. I exploited this neglect and am both stoked and surprised that others see real benefits in these events too. “

Ant was selected as the ART Creative Entrepreneur 2012 by the Judges from a shortlist of successful, entrepreneurial people working in a range of creative areas, who were nominated by their peers.

Fellow Judge and ART Board Member, Dr Peter Shand says that “Ant was nominated by someone in the creative sector who doesn’t know him personally but knows and admires what he has done. He made it onto ART’s shortlist because of his strong entrepreneurial drive and approach to making a living out of what is clearly a very strong personal passion: the preservation and promotion of edgy, cultish, left-of-centre movies.

"But it is not all about personal gain, and ART was particularly struck by Ant’s support and encouragement of up and coming filmmakers, demonstrated by his establishment of the 48HOURS - Furious Filmmaking Competition in 2003 and the Make My Movie initiative last year," he says.

“The 48HOURS - Furious Filmmaking Competition provides an opportunity, catalyst and promotional vehicle for up-and-coming filmmakers, and has done so for 10 years. In that time many people have got a start in their creative path as producer, director, actor and/or technician through the competition – notably director/actor Taika Waititi, the team that later went on to develop ‘The Jacquie Brown Diaries’ for TV, and 2010 champs, ‘the Downlow Concept’ (who were also grand champs in 2006) whose 2010 short ‘The Only Son’ went on to win Best Short Film at the Qantas Film and TV Awards," Peter adds.

“Ant is an inspired choice for the inaugural ART Creative Entrepreneur 2012 Award,” says ART’s Peter Shand. “The way he works really aligns with the values that ART holds dear; being innovative, creating a legacy for Auckland and beyond, building and growing talent and excellence."

Also presented at the ART Awards event on 29 February were places on the ART Venture programme to 12 creative entrepreneurs.

The Award recipients are Celia Harrison, Ella Mizrahi, Kristina Hard, Kyra Clarke, Margaret-Mary Hollins, Marshall Smith, Sally Greer, Sarah Graham, Shirley Allan, Tamati Patuwai, Te Rongo Kirkwood and Tim Bray.

The year-long ART Venture programme provides start-up and experienced creative entrepreneurs with a flexible yet intensive action-learning environment that, through peer-to-peer support, specialist coaching, a seed fund pitching process and an innovative curriculum, accelerates the creative enterprise development of each participant. The value to each of the participants is $35,000, which represents the Arts Regional Trusts commitment to and meaningful investment in Auckland’s creative future. The ART Venture 2012 Award recipients will begin the programme in February 2012.