Whaingaroa filmmaking celebrated at red carpet awards night

The Old School Arts Centre hosted the fifth Raglan Film Festival awards on Saturday night (21.09.13).  As the celebrities arrived on the red carpet, they were photographed by Jwan Millek. After sampling the canapes, guests were welcomed by MC Ruth Port. Next they enjoyed the dinner catered by the Raglan Soccer Mums.

MC Ruth Port then announced the 2013 nominees, prior to the screening of the films:

Mungo Bates: Deja Vu Skate
Mungo is the youngest entry and attends Raglan Area School. This short film features Raglan groms at the skate bowl and was produced and directed by Mungo.

Cornerstone Roots: Take Me
Released this year in January 2013, music video for the second single from Cornerstone Roots’ forthcoming album Rock My Soul. Filmed on location in Raglan, by Adventure Artists at Tony T’s House.

Micah Puklowski: (Director/Producer) Restless
A short film about being restless! Unable to sleep, older sister of two Victoria returns to a family favourite vacation spot to face her past and try to find closure. Filmed in Whaingaora Harbour and the Beach. Written, directed, shot and cut by Micah. Starring Tassanee Puklowski, Ariana Brunet and Vanessa Moltzen – Vanessa is also the star the new Crispello Cadbury ad.

Dave Duffin and Kurt Oram: Roy Stuart – Surfer
Dave Duffin and Kurt Oram- Directors and Producers. A profile of Roy Stuart, a surfboard creator who has a very different approach to the craft. His boards are extremely long and are designed for speed and ease in surfing. Filmed on location in both Putaruru and Whaingaroa – mainly filmed at Manu Bay with some shots from a quadcopter. Dave spends a lot of time in Raglan and with his wife recently bought their first house in Raglan.

Ben Lenzner: The Backwards Rider
Ben Lenzer tells the story of Toronto artist Leslie Slowley who can be seen riding his bike around the streets of his city – sitting on the handlebars – facing backwards. Apologies from Ben who is unable to attend this evening – he is busy with his family in New York. Ben lives in Raglan, is currently studying for his PhD at Waikato University and is a Filmmaker.

Mike O’Neill: Khushi
Writer, producer, cameraman, editor and a resident of Raglan for 7 years, Mike has put together a documentary takes a look at the little known problem of elder abuse amongst Indian and South Asian people in New Zealand – and the charitable organisation that helps them. Filmed on location at the Shanti Niwas Centre in Mt Albert, Auckland. The video was conceived, written, edited and post produced her in Raglan.

Juan Duazo: ‘A Hoe’ coastal journey by KASM – Kiwis Against Seabed Mining
Featuring Phil McCabe, Bernadette Gavin and their 11-year-old daughter Sequoia who are walking the coast between Opunake and Whanganui over the course of a week, engaging with South Taranaki communities on the issue of seabed mining. Directed by Juan Duazo who has recently moved to Australia.

Phil McCabe: ‘Silent Might’ KASM – Kiwis Against Seabed Mining
Video featuring Raglan Whaingaroa residents stating their reasons and views for opposing mining of the seabed. A collective of everyday people came together express their love of our marine environment and their commitment to protect that environment from economic exploitation. You could ask PHIL when it was filmed.

James Brown: ‘Red, White Black and Blue’
This acclaimed documentary follows a group of high school students from South Los Angeles as they embark on a rugby tour of New Zealand. The group’s tour included a visit to Raglan, where they plaid a game against Melville High School. Red, White Black and Blue has won Best Documentary (Idyllwild Cinemafest)
Rising Star Award (Canada International Film Festival)
Best Documentary Film Editing (Amsterdam Film Festival) as well as nomination for the Raglan Arts Film Festival 2013. Congratulations also on your new baby!

For the first time, the award recipients received a cash prize with their awards. This was made possible by generous support from Droidworx, PiwiWiwi Campers, and Stendy Electrical. The 2013 Raglan Arts Film Festival Awards presented to the recipients by the sponsors and Old School members were:

• RAFFA Music Video Award: Cornerstone Roots for “Take Me”
• Best Director Award: Ben Lenzner for Backwards Rider
• Best Actress Award: Vanessa Moltzen, Restless
• Best Short Film Award:  KASM and Juan Duazo for ‘A Hoe’ featuring Phil, Bernadette and Sequoia
• RAFFA Feature Film Award: James Brown for ‘Red, White Black and Blue’
• Young Talent Award: Mungo Bates, for “Déjà Vu Skate”

Certificates were presented to honour and congratulate nominees for the high quality of their films and the thought-provoking human interest documentaries.

• Dave Duffin and Kurt Oram for “Roy Stuart – Surfer” for sharing the uniqueness and design that is “Roy’s surfboards”.
• Mike O’Neill and Lyn Kriegler for “Khushi”which bought to the Raglan community an awareness of the Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust and the support centre that exists to help those in need.
• Juan Duazo for “Silent Might” which documents a significant and important assembly of members of the Raglan Community and KASM voicing their strong opposition to seabed mining.
• Micah Puklowski for ‘Restless’ as Director and Producer for yet another great entry into the Raglan Film Festival.

The RAFFA awards were designed by Phil & Emily Meek from Surreal Steel. The award design captures the ‘Old School’ style of a film movie reel’.

This evening concluded with a photo session  followed by dessert. The organisers thanked the Raglan Soccer Mums for catering, Phil and Emily Meek for designing of the RAFFAs, Lucretia Perkins for serving our refreshments, the stars and film makers, Jwan Millek the official paparazzi for the evening and the sponsors; DroidWorx, Stendy Electrical, PiwiWiwi Campers, Grolsch Beer, Whaingaroa Environment Centre, Creative Communities NZ (Waikato District), Raglan Club and Raglan Community Radio.