Florian Habicht of Auckland has won the 2004 SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award, which recognises emerging filmmakers who have displayed special talent, excellence and creativity in their filmmaking.

Florian has made several short films and three feature-length digital films, which have screened throughout New Zealand and in film festivals internationally. Two of his films, Kaikohe Demolition and Woodenhead, were made with support from the Screen Innovation Production Fund.

Image: Florian Habicht winner of the SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award 2004Florian Habicht of Auckland has won the 2004 SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award, which recognises emerging filmmakers who have displayed special talent, excellence and creativity in their filmmaking.

Florian has made several short films and three feature-length digital films, which have screened throughout New Zealand and in film festivals internationally. Two of his films, Kaikohe Demolition and Woodenhead, were made with support from the Screen Innovation Production Fund.

Image: Florian Habicht winner of the SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award 2004Kaikohe Demolition, which opens in Auckland this week, was a highlight of this year's Telecom New Zealand International Film Festival. And Woodenhead has just been released on DVD. As well as the New Zealand festival, it has screened at the Melbourne, Sitges, Commonwealth, Cardiff and Cannes film festivals, and AFM Markets. It will also screen at next year's Fantosporto Festival in Portugal and Festival d'Annonay in France.

The Screen Innovation Production Fund, a partnership between Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Film Commission, supports the moving-image arts by funding innovative, experimental and often low-budget productions.

Florian says he's grateful to the Screen Innovation Production Fund for supporting his work.
"The awards ceremony was a great event. I met some really brilliant people and it just feels really great to have won," he says.

"I know that in life one good thing often leads to another good thing and it is so exciting to have lots of opportunities opening up. It really feels like my hard work is starting to pay off.

"The timing for winning the award is really exciting too because Kaikohe Demolition opens at Academy Cinema in Auckland this week and I have been accepted to attend the Maurits Binger Film Institute in Amsterdam next year."

Florian has started working on a new film project to take to Amsterdam. "It's a true story about me but no one will believe it. The story will seem like a fantasy."

Linda Halle, Screen Innovation Production Fund Adviser for Creative New Zealand, says that over the years the Fund has supported many filmmakers whose work has gone on to win awards and screen at international film festivals.

"The fact that all the finalists in the awards have received support from the Fund is a validation of its work and the grants it's making," she says. "It's the only fund available to New Zealand moving-image artists that actively encourages risk-taking and experimentation."

Briar March of Auckland and Patrick Gillies of Christchurch were the other finalists in the 2004 SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year Award.