Rising actress Ariana Brunet received the Raglan Arts Film Festival Award for Best Actress at The Raglan Film Festival Awards night on Saturday 2nd October. Eleven year old Ariana stars in the TV programme, This is Not My Life in the role of Becky. The 13 part action-thriller is part relationship drama and science fiction.
Best actor award went to Reiki Ruawai, star of Beat. It was filmed in Raglan at Whare Midge (Midge Marsden’s house) and directed by Virginia Pitts. Leon Narbey was the director of photography, he was cinematographer on Whale Rider, No.2, Rain of the Children and Dean Spanley. “Because of the nature of short films we were very fortunate to have the Raglan community support this project – through kindness and generosity it was brought to life”. Raglan local Brenda Kidd was the art director and many other local people brought their skills to this project.
Film maker Turanga Kereopa received the RAFFA Creative Visual Award for his film, The Chronicles of the Sky Child. This final first year film was largely shot on location a Mt Karioi, featuring Raglan locals as part of the production. Turanga has recently won a Wintec Award Gencom technology JVC visual award for the Chronicles of the Sky Child ‘Excellence in Visual Exploration’.
And the RAFFA Creative Force Award went to Nane McLean for Baxter where she was 1st Assistant Director and for Pukeko Princess where she was Writer/Producer/Director. Baxter is a short film and finalist in ‘Another 48 Hours of Film Making 2010’. The story is a philosophical look the journey of life. Pukeko Princess is a quirky coming of age story about a young girl. The majority of the filming was shot in Hamilton but important scenes of the short were filmed in the Raglan Town Hall with many residents used as extras. Nane wrote, produced and directed this film and says that this project was one of the best learning experiences she has had yet!
The RAFFA awards and the red carpet awards night celebrate the achievements of local Raglan Whaingaroa film makers and actors. They are organised by the Raglan Community Arts Council and held at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre. Nominations for the Raglan Film Festival Awards are for films of any length and genre made by film makers or actors from around the Whaingaroa Harbour (West of the deviation) or filmed in the area. All short films were screened at the awards night along with excerpts from TV series and feature length films. The RAFFA awards were designed by local Whaingaroa steel artist, Philip Meek.
The 2010 RAFFA recipients are:
- Turanga Kereopa: The RAFFA Creative Visual Award
- Maryann Tuao: RAFFA Best Musical Feature
- Micah Puklowski: RAFFA Best Drama
- Patti Mitchley: The RAFFA Environment Award
- Nane McLean: The RAFFA Creative Force Award
- Ariana Brunet: RAFFA Best Actress
- Reiki Ruawai: RAFFA Best Actor
