The 2015 Raglan Arts Film Festival Awards (RAFFA) were presented on Saturday night (19th September) at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre. The seventh edition of the glamour red carpet awards night saw the BOW St Depot GRAND Phoenix Palm Award, Raglan’s version of the Cannes Palm D’or, go to Mike O’Neill for Raglan Remembers World War One.
Mike received the award along with a $200 prize and a $50 Bow St Depot voucher. This RAFFA award includes judging for film making and a strong connection to Whaingaroa. Heidi from Bow St Depot presented the Bow St Depot Grand Phoenix Palm award and prizes.
The RAFFA awards are designed by Chris Meek from STUDEO GALLERY. There are nine awards including the Bow St Grand Phoenix Palm Award. The Phoenix Palm award was created using draft horse shoes and the RAFFA awards have been made from large bolts re-shaped into a useful award coaster.
The warm dry spring evening provided ideal conditions for the red carpet arrivals with paparazzi photos. Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki King Country, and husband Louis were amongst the red carpet arrivals as well as Richard Gemmell, chair of Waikato District Creative Communities. After some socialising by all, there was a sit down dinner in the marquee. This was followed by screening of extracts from the films, then the award announcements. MC Ngaronoa Renata kept the evening moving along.
The other RAFFA awards presented were:
RAFFA for Best Director awarded for excellent art and music direction
- WINNER: Albert Ross aka Andy Duggan for Saint Jude.
RAFFA for Best Documentary
- WINNER: Komako Silver for Tippahee
RAFFA for Best Drama
- WINNER: Scotti Productions – winner of Best Drama for Ross & Beth
RAFFA Best Young Talent Award
- WINNER: Whaingaroa Youth Movement for Nevereverland
RAFFA Art Film Award
- WINNER: Lucretia Perkins for ‘Whenua’
RAFFA Music Video Award
- WINNER: Dave Murray for Avalanche City – Inside Out
RAFFA Environmental Award
- WINNER: Aaron Moar, Emily McDowall, Andre Ngapo, Tiki Taane and Raglan Area School singers for Save Maui Dolphin Today. The Save Maui Dolphins Today song was composed by Andre Ngapo with RAS children over 8 years ago when there were over 100 dolphins left
RAFFA Best Human Interest Award
- WINNER: Samantha Blackley of Satellite Media for Raglan Neighbourhood
A number of special awards were then presented:
Judges’ special award for capturing the spirit of Raglan’s surf and soul
Award with a $50 Bow St Depot voucher
Dave Herrera for KUHL
Judges’ special award for portraying our community’s concern for the Maui dolphinAward with a $50 Bow St Depot voucher
Ryan Sykes for Maui Dolphin Day and Message to the Minister
Judges’ special award for documenting an extreme sports event
Award with a $50 Bow St Depot voucher
Andy Salek and Greg Townsend for the Ultimate Waterman
Judges’ special award for documenting a creative fashion event
Award with a $50 Bow St Depot voucher
Aaron Moar and Jean Carbon for the ‘C’Bon Collection’
The Raglan Film Festival organisers, the Raglan Community Arts Council, thanked all who made the 2015 Festival and the RAFFA Awards possible:
- The Raglan Soccer Mums for catering the RAFFA event
- Chris Meek for designing of our RAFFAs awards
- Andy Fels for the design of our brochure
- Lucretia Perkins for serving our refreshments for us
- All of our Whaingaroa stars and film makers
- Lester Silver our official paparazzi for the evening
- Sponsors Bow St Depot, Yot Club, Sayer Landscape Supplies, Aeronavics, Grolsch, Ray White Raglan, Raglan Coconut Yoghurt, Raglan Gym, Raglan Community Radio, Raglan Club, Raglan Four Square, Waoku Lodge, Waikato District Creative Communities
- Coordinators Pia and Jacqueline and the Film Festival team
- And everyone who came along to be a part of the Raglan Film Festival and the RAFFA Awards night.
The evening ended with a draw of the raffle for RAFFA basket. The lucky winner was Heidi Tidmarsh.