By Kate Rodger
The Women in Film and Television Awards were held in Auckland last night, honouring long-time industry players and newcomers alike.
Winners of two of the night’s biggest awards were Gaylene Preston and Ainsley Gardiner, both of whom paid tribute to one of New Zealand’s great pioneering female filmmakers.
The awards were a bit of a who’s who of the local screen industry. Each year they are an opportunity to hail the achievements of the fairer sex and it’s been an excellent year for female filmmakers.
Producer Ainsley Gardiner says she was shocked to even be nominated.
“To be honest I was surprised, I didn’t think you could be nominated more than once, awards are neither here or there but I’m stoked to be nominated,” she says.
Boy producer Ainsley Gardiner wasn’t just nominated, she won the WIFT award for achievement in film, off the back of the record-breaking success of her film.
A fellow producer on that film was the late Mereta Mita and Gardiner attributes her own achievements to her colleague and friend.
“I’m feeling a bit choked up, but I’d like to thank Mereta.”
Director Gaylene Preston’s also having a great year. Her feature Home by Christmas has also enjoyed a great box office and several well received film festival outings.
WIFT honoured the thirty year veteran for her outstanding achievement in film.
Preston too paid tribute to Mereta Mita.
Other winners included Weta Workshop Manager Tania Rodger, wife of Oscar-winner Richard Taylor and TV3’s Outrageous Fortune creator Rachel Lang.
3 News