EVENT AT A GLANCE

• Accepting entries from all video makers or filmmakers on any subject or genre.
• Awards ceremony broadcast live from Invercargill’s Civic Theatre on Sky Digital 90.
• An Oscars style presentation with trophies, prizes and over $20,000.00 cash, covering 11 categories Screening of entries at Reading Cinema, Invercargill.
• An impromptu one hour filming contest called “Film-in-the-Cam”
• A Peoples Choice award with the top five entries playing on Sky digital with text voting
• A Southland only schools section with workshops, screenings, awards night and broadcast of the three best entries on TV3’s Sticky TV.

HISTORY

Inaugural event in 2000 with a dozen local amateur video makers and industry
entrants from Mercury Television (now Southland TV)

2002 School section added and entries totalled 20

2003 Total entries climbed to 42

2004 “Film-in-the-Cam” added and entries totalled 57 including some from outside Southland; text voting trialed.

Spirit on screen 2005

• Event budget doubled
• First prize quadrupled to $10,000
• Total prize pool tripled to over $20,000
• National and international marketing
• Live awards broadcast on Sky Digital 90

Target markets - Entrants

• Tertiary students at Polytechnics and Universities.
• Amateur video-makers and those on the fringe of the video-making, film or television industry.
• School students at the primary, intermediate and secondary levels.
• Established filmmakers and video producers

Target markets - Audience

• Creative Arts interest
• Film societies
• Technologically savvy
• Principally mid to upper socio-economic bracket

Marketing

Direct marketing to tutors within polytechnics, film schools, universities, production companies and TV stations throughout NZ and parts of Australia.

Direct marketing to known video making groups and associations, advertising in film and video newsletters and magazines.

Promotional and advertising campaign on Sky Digital 90; promotional presence on southlandnz.com; magazine and radio advertising.

Event Objectives

• To encourage creativity through the medium of film and video
• To fill a gap in the market to provide a well executed and recognised national competition for emerging film and television producers
• To support Southland’s fast emerging image as an innovative region with strong tertiary student appeal and major national events.
• To maximise regional branding opportunities from the event through incorporation of the Southland NZ Spirit of a Nation brand and associated nationwide promotional themes.
• To provide brand development opportunities and resultant sales growth to commercial sponsors.
• To provide a vehicle for product profile and advertisement with resultant sales increase.

Category of Awards 2005