Jackie van Beek!
Congratulations to WIFT member Jackie who was awarded this prestigious honour at the recent Spada Conference.
Below is an excerpt from Cameron Harland's speech announcing Jackie as this year's New Filmmaker of the Year.
"Whilst we certainly acknowledge the challenges facing our industry at the moment and the serious lack of international work currently on offer, the local industry is also an important focus for us all. And it is the new young filmmakers that provide us with hope and opportunities. They are the lifeblood of our industry, now and into the future (no pressure)!
This year's SPADA New Film Maker of the Year winner is exactly the type of person that shows our industry is in good hands.
She has written and directed six short films in the last five years in three different countries. And her films are extraordinary, many depicting special needs children and the under privileged.
She is a member of the NZWG, WIFT and Screen Director's Guild. She has taught film at the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, acted as a mentor for emerging directors for WIFT and will be a mentor for the Script to Screen/Show Me Shorts Film Lab this year.
Park Road is delighted to announce this year's SPADA New Film Maker of the Year is ... . Jackie van Beek
(Principal Sponsor: Park Road Post Production)
Over the last five years Jackie has produced a staggering six short films and a feature script. Jackie's short films demonstrate the development of a unique directorial voice alongside increasingly accomplished craft. Her ability to extract naturalistic, truthful and engaging performances from children is particularly impressive, as is her commitment to telling stories about people often pushed to the fringes of society."