New Zealand film Butterfly Crush has won a prestigious Award of Merit in the US-based Accolade Awards.

Butterfly Crush, from Wanganui production company Artmedia, is the first film from writer-director Alan Clay.

The film was released theatrically in New Zealand in August last year.

The film’s lead actress, Australian Amelia Shankley, has won the Accolade Award of Excellence for Best Supporting Actor for her role in the film, which was set in Sydney but shot largely in Wanganui.

The Accolade’s website says the awards competition is unique, rewarding filmmakers who produce “fresh, standout productions”.

Butterfly Crush will screen at the Love Unlimited Film Festival in Portland, Oregon next week.

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