This year’s New Zealand Cinematographers Society sell-out Awards dinner was punctuated with heartfelt moments as cinematographers collected the admiration of their peers along with their awards.
The new venue at The Cordis offered a sense of intimacy and occasion and after the formalities were over the evening was capped off with a massive after-party.
There were times when the room was moved as we watched the surprise of humble winners who had perhaps entered to participate rather than collect an actual award.
The fruits of a more inclusive NZCS began to show with more women featuring in the top awards, if not yet fully represented. Guest speaker, the respected producer Rob Tapert gave food for thought on the unspoken influence a cinematographer has onset, before picking up a well deserved Turtz award for contribution by a non-cinematographer.
Cinematographer of The Year
The superb cinematography in Brittish-American romantic drama Ophelia saw Denson Baker NZCS ACS win Cinematographer of The Year 2019.
A re-imagined story of Shakespeare’s Hamlet the win affirms that Baker belongs at the top level of drama cinematography.
Al Guilford Emerging Cinematographer
Tammy Williams’s impressive work on short film Ways To See lead to her collecting the 2019 Al Guilford Emerging Cinematographer award.
Williams shoots a wide variety of short films, documentaries, and commercial work, including Zoe McIntosh’s comedy documentary Deadly Ponies Gang and short films such as Grey William, Baby, My Breakup with God and more recently Ways to See.
Based on what we’ve seen from previous winners, Willaims is a cinematographer to watch. Al Guilford Emerging Cinematographer
Tammy Williams’s impressive work on short film Ways To See lead to her collecting the 2019 Al Guilford Emerging Cinematographer award.
Williams shoots a wide variety of short films, documentaries, and commercial work, including Zoe McIntosh’s comedy documentary Deadly Ponies Gang and short films such as Grey William, Baby, My Breakup with God and more recently Ways to See.
Based on what we’ve seen from previous winners, Willaims is a cinematographer to watch.
Turtz Award
Producer Rob Tapert was recognised with the 2019 Turtz Awards for his loyal support of New Zealand cinematographers over the previous decades.
He was noted for bucking the trend to import international cinematographers on major US productions shot in New Zealand, instead insisting on hiring local crew.
Tapert was clearly chuffed by the award as he had just sat down after his guest speech reflecting on cinematography from a producer’s point of view.
See the 2019 New Zealand Cinematography winners list here.
Visit https://www.nzcine.com