Open the bubbly! We're delighted that Jean, the Jean Batten biopic produced by WIFTers Paula Boock and Donna Malane, has won an impressive nine awards at the New York Festivals International Television and Film Awards.
The NZ On Air- and TVNZ-funded television film won recognition from the New York Festivals Grand Jury in these nine categories:
- Gold World Medal: Best Performance by an Actress - KATE ELLIOTT (pictured above as Jean Batten)
- Gold World Medal: Best Camerawork - GINNY LOANE (also a WIFT member)
- Gold World Medal: Best Original Music - PETER HOBBS (Harmonic)
- Gold World Medal: Drama Special - LIPPY PICTURES
- Gold World Medal: TV Movie - LIPPY PICTURES
- Silver World Medal: Best Direction - ROBERT SARKIES
- Silver World Medal: Best Screenplay - PAULA BOOCK & DONNA MALANE
- Silver World Medal: Best Sound Design - CHRIS BURT (The Inside Track)
- Silver World Medal: Best Special Visual Effects - PETER MCCULLY (Albedo)
Congratulations to Paula, Donna, Ginny and the entire talented team behind Jean!
The Award's VP & Executive Director Rose Anderson described winning this number of Gold and Silver World Medals as "a wonderful achievement. Jean received multiple perfect scores from our grand jury members. The stellar results were across all categories and here at New York Festivals, we are honored to recognize such a wonderful program."
Made by Paula Boock and Donna Malane of Lippy Pictures, the 90-minute television film was funded by NZ On Air's Platinum Fund for $3.2M. It screened on TVNZ's Sunday Theatre last September.