No, don’t fret, we are not introducing a notoriously scratchy uniform staple for our students to wear. Rather, we are celebrating the success of our Level 2 Film Studies students at this year’s ‘School Shorts’ Film Competition.

The competition is only in its second year and has grown rapidly, from a Canterbury schools’ competition in its 2017 inception, to becoming South Island-wide this year. ARA Head of New Zealand Broadcasting School, Tony Simons, is predicting it will broaden to become NZ-wide in 2019.

Hagley had three films selected to be among the 19 finalists, which came from a wide and ranging group of South Island schools. On the night, Hagley was successful in bringing home:

Best Screenplay: ’Bukowski’ by Eiko Olykan.

Supreme Award for Best Overall Film: ‘Almost Out’ by Travis Woffenden.

Honorable Mention: Zach Arnold Te Maari for performance in ‘The Robber’, by Josh Turner, Toby Swann and Zach Arnold Te Maari.

Best Actor also went to ‘Almost Out’, and was taken home by Quinn Kueppers.

The judges, Richard Bell, Vanessa Wells and Kirk Pflaum are all industry-employed experts in Broadcasting, Production and the Performing Arts. The resounding message from the judges on the night was one of encouragement for the large amount of film making talent they see coming through NZ high schools.

School Shorts is sponsored by ARA, Photo and Video International, and the Rock Shop. With prizes ranging from $100 cash prizes to vouchers donated by the Rock Shop for best audio and best cinematography, to the supreme prize of a Panasonic G7 with a 14-44mm lens, valued at $1,000.

All finalist films were screened to a full 200 seat cinema at Reading Cinemas, The Palms.