The Digital Feature Finalists in this year's New Zealand Film Awards were selected from an astounding 33 entries.

Film Awards - December 8th in Auckland

Image: Darien Takle nominated for best performance for ChristmasThe Digital Feature Finalists in this year's New Zealand Film Awards were selected from an astounding 33 entries.

Film Awards - December 8th in Auckland

Image: Darien Takle nominated for best performance for ChristmasOktobor BEST DIGITAL FEATURE
Christmas Leanne Saunders and Gregory King
Orphans and Angels Harold Brodie
Woodenhead Florian Habicht

BEST PERFORMANCE
Christmas Darien Takle
Orphans and Angels Emmeline Hawthorne
This Is Not A Love Story Stephen Lovatt

BEST SCRIPT
Christmas Gregory King
Orphans and Angels Harold Brodie
This Is Not A Love Story Keith Hill

Sony BEST TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION
Christmas Caroline Faigan (Art Director)
Orphans and Angels Ian Beale (Cinematography)
Woodenhead Christopher Pryor (Director of Photography and Co-Editor)

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
To be announced

SHORT FILM FINALISTS (Selected from 79 entries)

BEST SHORT FILM
Beautiful Adam Stevens
The French Doors Steve Ayson
Two Cars, One Night Taika Waititi

BEST PERFORMANCE
The Platform Peter Feeney
Beautiful Jason Hoyte
Two Cars, One Night Rangi Ngamoki

BEST SCRIPT
Playing A Role Daniel Strang
Turangawaewae Wiremu Grace
Two Cars, One Night Taika Waititi

BEST TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION
Two Cars, One Night Adam Clarke (Cinematography)
Kitty Micheal Lucas (Digital Visual Effects)
The Platform Dave Whitehead (Music Composition)

FEATURE FILM JURY
Paul Davis began his film career in 1984 as head of marketing at Mirage Films, handling international sales and local distribution. He moved to London in 1988 working for Gavin Film, Majestic, and from 1997 as president of marketing at Intermedia where he handled international marketing for over 30 feature films including four by Woody Allen.

Donald Duncan won the best cinematography award at the NZ Film Awards for SNAKESKIN. His other features include ALEX and JACK BE NIMBLE, as well as four US telemovies shot in Auckland. He shot 77 episodes of XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS, for which he was originating director of photography.

Tony Johnson won a Bafta nomination for his work on THE PIANO. His other films as sound recordist include WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED? and BROKEN ENGLISH.
Temuera Morrison is the award-winning star of the number one New Zealand box office success ONCE WERE WARRIORS and its sequel WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED? His first New Zealand feature role was as Rangi in RANGI'S CATCH (1973).

Brett Schwieters was designer of JUBILEE (1999), WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN-HEARTED? (1998), and CHANNELLING BABY (1998). He was art director of MEMORY AND DESIRE (1997), and designer of THE WHOLE OF THE MOON (1997) and BONJOUR TIMOTHY (1994).

DIGITAL FEATURES JURY
Jane Gilbert (Kai Tahu) has worked as a producer, line producer and production manager for over 27 years. For the last six years she has developed Film New Zealand to be the national film location office working in partnership with key New Zealand Central and Local Government agencies. She is now a marketing consultant to the creative industries.

John Laing began his feature film directing career with the award-winning BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. His other features are THE LOST TRIBE, OTHER HALVES, DANGEROUS ORPHANS, ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU, and the digital feature THE SHIRT. He has just completed production of the third series of MERCY PEAK.

Yvonne Mackay directed the award-winning feature THE SILENT ONE. She is in pre-production for CASTLE OF LIES. She has directed four movies for television: THE HAUNTING, UNDERCOVER, DUGGAN and CLARE, and the mini-series TYPHON'S PEOPLE. She is a partner in the Gibson Group and First Sun.

Sue Murray is executive director of the Australian production company Fandango Australia whose first feature ALEXANDRA'S PROJECT competed in competition at Berlin this year. Prior to Fandango she was acquisitions consultant for Fine Line Features and for 11 years prior to that director of marketing for the Australian Film Commission.

Wayne Vinten has won two photo-journalism awards for cinematography as well as the inaugural Allied Craft Award. As director of photography he worked on both series of DARK KNIGHT, and has been associated with award-winning documentaries including MY NAME IS JANE. He recently completed directing three one-hour film dramas for UK television.
SHORT FILMS JURY
Michael Bennett (Te Arawa, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Pikaio) is the award-winning writer/director of COW (Best Short Film Script NZ Film Awards 2001). Michael has written and directed episodes of the television drama MATAKU, directed episodes of MERCY PEAK and STREET LEGAL and written the feature film JUBILEE.

Jane Gilbert (Kai Tahu) has worked as a producer, line producer and production manager for over 27 years. For the last six years she has developed Film New Zealand to be the national film location office working in partnership with key New Zealand Central and Local Government agencies. She is now a marketing consultant to the creative industries.

Yvonne Mackay directed the award-winning feature THE SILENT ONE. She is in pre-production for CASTLE OF LIES. She has directed four movies for television: THE HAUNTING, UNDERCOVER, DUGGAN and CLARE, and the mini-series TYPHON'S PEOPLE. She is a partner in the Gibson Group and First Sun.

Sue Murray is executive director of the Australian production company Fandango Australia whose first feature ALEXANDRA'S PROJECT competed in competition at Berlin this year. Prior to Fandango she was acquisitions consultant for Fine Line Features and for 11 years prior to that director of marketing for the Australian Film Commission.

Wayne Vinten has won two photo-journalism awards for cinematography as well as the inaugural Allied Craft Award. As director of photography he worked on both series of DARK KNIGHT, and has been associated with award-winning documentaries including MY NAME IS JANE. He recently completed directing three one-hour film dramas for UK television.