The first 21 categories in this year's Qantas Film and Television Awards have been announced. The Craft Awards celebrate outstanding technical expertise in categories including cinematography, make-up design, costume design, camerawork, editing, music, production design and sound design.

The Craft Awards follow the merger this year of the New Zealand Screen Awards and New Zealand Television Awards. The remaining 36 categories will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on Saturday night and will be broadcast on TV3 at 9.30pm.The first 21 categories in this year's Qantas Film and Television Awards have been announced. The Craft Awards celebrate outstanding technical expertise in categories including cinematography, make-up design, costume design, camerawork, editing, music, production design and sound design.

The Craft Awards follow the merger this year of the New Zealand Screen Awards and New Zealand Television Awards. The remaining 36 categories will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on Saturday night and will be broadcast on TV3 at 9.30pm.Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand executive director and organising committee member, Anna Cahill, said a separate Craft Awards ceremony was held because of the growth of the New Zealand film and television industries.

"The awards recognise that the expertise, passion, tenacity and determination of our people are integral to our industries' work being a success at home and internationally."

New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council chief executive and organising committee member, Rick Friesen, said the judges were impressed with the depth and maturity of this year's entries.

"In recent years both the film and television industries have increasingly been singled out for the technical and creative brilliance of their work. The finalists and winners at the Qantas Film and Television Craft Awards today reflect that. We congratulate them."

The Qantas Film and Television Craft Awards were held in the Winter Garden at Auckland's Civic Theatre on Friday September 12.

The red carpet will be rolled out at Auckland's historic Civic Theatre on Saturday September 13 for the Qantas Film and Television Awards. The Awards ceremony will be attended by more than 1,000 guests from the world of film and television and will be broadcast on TV3 at 9.30pm.

Film

Achievement in Cinematography - Greig Fraser, Out of the Blue

Outstanding Technical Contribution in Film - budget under $1 million - Ginny Loane, Cinematographer, A Song of Good

Achievement in Make-up Design in Film - Dave Elsey, Black Sheep

Achievement in Editing in Film - Annie Collins, Out of the Blue

Achievement in Original Music in Film - John Gibson and Jack Body, Rain of the Children

Television

Achievement in Original Music in General Television - Christian Biegai, Riki Gooch and Dave Whitehead

Achievement in Production Design in General Television - Ant Sang, bro'Town

Best News Camera - Jared Mason, One News and Close Up

Best Current Affairs Camera - George Murahidy, 60 Minutes

See the full list

About the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand

The Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand (SDGNZ) represents New Zealand Directors and Editors. The Guild creates a forum where creatives can define, defend and further their professional industry. The SDGNZ is dedicated to the artistic excellence, employment opportunities and economic wellbeing of its members.

About the New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council

The New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council is an industry organisation representing the non-competitive interests of free-to-air television broadcasters in New Zealand. The members are TVWorks, Television New Zealand and Maori Television.

13/09/08