The top award at the 2015 Raglan Arts Film Festival Awards has been given to a documentary that pays tribute to Raglan’s wartime history.
At the red carpet award ceremony on Saturday night at the Raglan Old School Centre, Mike O’Neill was given the Bow St Depot Grand Phoenix Palm Award and a $200 prize for his Raglan Remembers film that commemorates the centenary of World War One.
The documentary, which was made for the Raglan Museum’s WW1 exhibition, shows descendants of Raglan soldiers reading their letters and diaries from the battlefields.
Raglan Community Arts Council chairperson Rodger Gallagher says the seventh annual awards attracted 14 entries of a very high standard for the nine divisions.
The subject matter ranged from surfing and music videos to coverage of local events.
Rodger said many of the films were based on human interest stories, including Komako Silver’s winning documentary Tippahee, which told of the returning of a precious medal from Australia to Aotearoa.
The entries have to have a strong connection with Raglan – either the film being about Raglan or the film-maker residing in the town – and are judged by members of the council for their film making skills.
A marquee was put up outside the Old School venue to accommodate the 50-plus guests for the award ceremony and dinner, with guests including local MP Barbara Kuriger and Waikato District Creative Communities chair Richard Gemmell.
Rachel Benn
2015 RAFFA winners:
Grand Phoenix Palm Award: Mike O’Neill for Raglan Remembers
Best Director: Albert Ross aka Andy Duggan for Saint Jude
Best Documentary: Komako Silver for Tippahee
Best Drama: Scotti Productions for Ross & Beth
Best Young Talent Award: Whaingaroa Youth Movement for Nevereverland
Art Film Award: Lucretia Perkins for Whenua
Music Video Award: Dave Murray for Avalanche City’s Inside Out
Environmental Award: Aaron Moar, Emily McDowall, Andre Ngapo, Tiki Taane and Raglan Area School singers for Save Maui Dolphin Today, composed by Andre Ngapo.
Best Human Interest Award: Samantha Blackley of Satellite Media for Raglan Neighbourhood
