Winners of the 2016 Roxy5 Short Film Competition with Capital E have been announced Wednesday 18 May at the red carpet premiere screening at the Roxy Cinema in Miramar.

Seventeen entries from 124 students from 14 schools and college’s in the Wellington region were submitted. The entrants had 14 weeks to produce a five minute film with the theme ‘Kiwi As,’ telling their story with three essential New Zealand elements; the inclusion of a chocolate fish, the phrase ‘yeah, nah, yeah,’ and the use of a koru. The Roxy5 Film Competition 2016 gives out four awards including the Supreme Winner, two Runner-Up awards and the People’s Choice award.

Kapiti College students CJ Puna, Romain Thevenon, Rachel Roberts, Nikau Wineera, Vanessa O’Neill, Corin Braddick alongside assistance from their film teacher Alouis Woodhouse takes Supreme Winner for their film, Black Dog. The film focuses on the “kiwi as” tendency to not speak out about our issues around mental health and depression. It has a layered narrative which takes us into the mind of protagonist Harry and his emotions. The students have won $4,000 cash prize for their school an opportunity to re-make their film with film industry professionals, tutors from Capital E Digital and Park Road Post Production. Their re-made film will also feature in the Capital E National Arts Festival, in March, 2017.

Taking one of the runner- up awards is Kahurangi School for their film, Step by Step. Leitu Tuitama, Tina Foliga, Esther Ropati, Michael Tahaki-Fisher, Zulkifli Yes, Mia Matega, Jareece Leota, Uati Faletolu, Reuben James alongside teacher Niamh King made a story about a troubled boy on a mission to amend the sorrows and make peace with his recently deceased brother. Students have won a cash prize of $1,000 for their school an opportunity to re-make their film with film industry professionals, tutors from Capital E Digital and Park Road Post Production. Their re-made film will also feature in the Capital E National Arts Festival, in March, 2017.

Wellington High School also takes a runner-up award for their film, A Fishy Tale. The film depicts a young girl seeking the adventure and thrill of hunting for an elusive possession after being taunted by her brother. With assistance from their teacher Roger Mantel, students Molly Doyle, Ben Pickering, Lola Bieringa and Elianta Jaillet take a cash prize of $1,000 for their school and an opportunity to re-make their film with film industry professionals, tutors from Capital E Digital and Park Road Post Production. Their re-made film will also feature in the Capital E National Arts Festival, in March, 2017.

Finally, Rongotai College takes the People’s Choice Award for their film Gone Fishing. Their film asks the question, ‘what does it mean to be ‘Kiwi As’ for a new arrival to Aotearoa?’ A new Rongotai student (and promising private investigator), Jamal, finds out just what that means when the chocolate fish goes missing. Students, Louis Joblin, Daniel Gibbs, Zack Patten, Sohadi Yes, Krish Sharma, Vishal Patel, Mel Tofete with assistance from their teacher Nick O’Halloran win a full-day tour around all of Miramar’s film-making facilities and will have their film screened at the Peninsula Pictures event in 2017.

Co-Producers, Melissa Conway (Capital E) and Kristy Grant (Miramar Events Trust) say, “The entrants of the 2016 Roxy5 Short Film Competition gave our judges a very tough decision to make as the quality of the films was extremely high. The judges chose the winners through their creative storytelling and relation to the theme ‘Kiwi As’. The role of the competition is to encourage and inspire the next generation of kiwi filmmakers, by giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent; experience the industry first hand and build genuine connections. We’re thrilled that all entrants received this unique experience.”