Filmmakers win praise at awards

A trio of Mahurangi College students has won a highly recommended award at the recent International Youth Silent Film Festival (IYSFF) New Zealand Regional competition held at a red carpet event at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre in Tauranga recently.

The IYSFF is for film-makers aged 20 and younger. Ten genre soundtracks are provided for entrants who make 3-minute silent films of any style, including animation.

Actor and screenwriter Tim Balme presented the award to (pictured from left) Ysabella Stevenson, Naia Doak and Alesha McFarlane for their film Oedipus Rex.

The awards audience was treated to a screening of all of this year’s top 12 films, each accompanied live by award-winning American organist and IYSFF composer Nathan Avakian who performed on Baycourt’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

Winner of the event was 18-year-old Tauranga filmmaker Tina Jeong with Tonight.

- PHOTO/Brydie Photograph