The Someday Awards 2015: a rundown

A powerful documentary about an organisation that goes undercover to end sex slavery is this year's The Body Shop Standout Winner in The Outlook for Someday film challenge.

NVader, made by 16-year old Hunter Williams, is a brave, sensitive and cinematic portrayal of this often ignored issue.

It is one of the 20 winning films made by individuals and teams aged from 7 to 19 that have been honoured tonight in The Someday Awards ceremony at the Aotea Centre in Auckland.

The film features an interview with Daniel Walker, founder and Executive Director of Nvader, an organisation whose mission is freedom from sex trafficking.

"Hunter has handled a really tough issue with great sensitivity and genuine courage," said Daniel Walker. "He has exposed and communicated the depth of tragedy that is involved in the modern day slave trade, and also the real hope that Nvader brings through our fight for freedom."

NVader was selected as the standout winner of the film challenge by a judging team from the worlds of media, education, government and business.

"NVader is an extraordinary work of rare power by a young film-maker. It tackles a subject - sex trafficking and human slavery - that many people are afraid to confront," said film-maker Yamin Tun who was on the judging team. "16-year old Hunter Williams does not shy away from putting the issue front and centre."

NVader

Hunter Williams is one of the young film-makers who works on the online television programme Yours TV.

"There aren't many young people with Hunter's talent, but when you match this with his drive and willingness to take on projects and get stuck in - that's an unbeatable combination," said Damian Christie, Editor of Yours TV. "Hunter is definitely one to watch in the coming years!"

The prize package won by Hunter Williams includes a mentorship with Someday Ambassador Te Radar and director/writer/producer Peter Bell.

At The Someday Awards ceremony the winning film-makers received their prizes from Hon Maggie Barry, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, and Minister of Conservation.

"The Outlook for Someday is all about sustainability, celebrating New Zealand's natural world and exploring the social and environmental challenges which confront us as a nation," said Ms Barry. "This year has drawn a diverse and interesting range of different approaches from the 20 award winners."

Each Winning Film received a special award (listed below) and was in the running to be Element Audience Favourite.

Over 1000 people voted in the online poll, which was won by Message in a Bottle, a film about the true cost of bottled water for both the consumer and the planet.

Message in a Bottle

Now in its 9th year, The Outlook for Someday is New Zealand's sustainability film project for young people. It includes an annual film challenge and a national series of sustainability film-making workshops.

The objective of the project is to help grow a generation of sustainability storytellers.

In 2015 over a thousand young people have participated in either the film challenge or the 32 free one-day and two-day workshops that took place throughout New Zealand from June to August.

WATCH THE WINNING FILMS
www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/winning-films
DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF THE WINNING FILMS
www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/gallery/2015/winning-films/
DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS FROM THE SOMEDAY AWARDS CEREMONY
www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/gallery/2015/awards/
DOWNLOAD PROJECT IDENTITY
www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/gallery/2015/project-identity/

THE 20 SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS

New Zealand Film Commission Film-making Achievement Award

For a film with outstanding creative / technical quality

Eutha-nation by Mason Cade Packer (16) from Paraparaumu
Genre: Mockumentary
Synopsis: Imagine a future where compulsory euthanasia has been introduced to combat over-population.

Connected Media Sustainable Future Award
For a film which promotes dialogue on sustainability through a new perspective and/or critical thinking

NVader by Hunter Williams (16) from Auckland
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: A covert mission to save young girls from sex slavery leads to an organisation that empowers local people to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Department of Conservation Big Picture Award
For a film that relates to the Big Picture focus of DOC's National Education Strategy

I Love Waiorongomai by Eva Hakaraia (12) and Oriwa Hakaraia (12) from Te Kura-ā-Iwi O Whakatupuranga Rua Mano in Otaki
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: A story of community conservation in action to restore the health of Lake Waiorongomai.

Ministry of Youth Development Community Participation Award
For a film focusing on active citizenship

How to Write a Submission by Anya Bukholt-Payne (15) from Wellington
Genre: How To
Synopsis: A practical call to action, empowering young people to engage in civic issues.

Te Māngai Pāho Whakatipuranga Award
For a film with a Māori indigenous perspective on sustainability

He Kura Huna by a team from Bay of Plenty region (aged 15-19)
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: A young man's journey to connect with his cultural identity.

Coconut Wireless Pasifika Award
For a film by a Pasifika film-maker or team and/or featuring Pasifika language and culture

The Healthy Wrap by a team from Avalon Intermediate School in Lower Hutt (aged 11-13)
Genre: Music Video
Synopsis: The rhyme and reason of good nutrition for healthy living.

New Zealand Film Commission Young Women Film-makers Award
For a film made by a young woman film-maker or team

Original by a team from Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru (aged 14-15)
Genre: Video Essay
Synopsis: A young woman challenges stifling social pressures and speaks out for authenticity.

Like Minds, Like Mine Award
For a film that focuses on social inclusion and wellbeing as a sustainability issue for young people

The Birdwood Way by a team from Birdwood School in Auckland (aged 7-8)
Genre: Docudrama
Synopsis: Birdwood students demonstrate the values at the heart of their school.

All Good People and Planet Award
For a film which addresses social justice as a sustainability issue

May Be Wrong by Isaac Martin (18) from Gisborne
Genre: Video Essay
Synopsis: Our consumer culture manipulates us to be mindless, but we can use our purchasing power for good.

Auckland Council Film-maker Award
For a film by a film-maker or team from the Auckland region

Biodiversity by a team from Point England School in Auckland (aged 10-11)
Genre: Animated Documentary
Synopsis: A colourful depiction of our natural world and the importance of protecting species from extinction.

The Wireless Storytelling Award
For a film with powerful storytelling

The Jayke Hopa Story by a team from Putaruru College in Putaruru (aged 14)
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: An insight into the life of Jayke Hopa, and how he has taught his school to include those who can't see.

Web Show Central Cinematography Award
For a film with outstanding cinematography

Message in a Bottle by Liam van Eeden (17) and Jean-Martin Fabre (17) from Verdon College in Invercargill
Genre: PSA
Synopsis: The true cost of bottled water for both the consumer and the planet.

Yours Digital Media Award
For a film with outstanding editing or animation

Do You Want A Bag? by Alice Emeny (15) from Chatham Islands
Genre: PSA
Synopsis: An illustration of how one simple choice can have severe consequences.

Accelerating Aotearoa Young Voices For Change Award
For a film motivating young people and/or decision-makers to be change-makers

Whenua Finds a Future by Sarah Ridsdale (14) from the Palmerston North
Genre: Animated Drama
Synopsis: Curious Whenua the Whio learns about his species from his DOC ranger friend.

Rockstock Media Empowerment Award
For a film which empowers its viewers and/or its makers

The Future is in Your Hands by Lisa Thompson (17) from Kapiti
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: Why is sign language, the third official language of New Zealand, not offered as a subject in our secondary schools?

Green Ideas Sustainable Lifestyle Award
For a film focusing on lifestyle change for sustainability

The Plastic Reducers by a team from the Wellington region (aged 8-14)
Genre: Music Video
Synopsis: A rapper's guide on taking steps to reduce, reuse and recycle.

The 4.30 Show Secondary School Film-makers Award
For a film made by young people of secondary school age

Mountains for Malawi by Henry Donald (18) from Auckland
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: Three young men undertake the challenge of cycling the height of Mount Everest to raise money for a community in Malawi.

What Now Primary/Intermediate School Film-makers Award
For a film made by young people of primary or intermediate school age

Koro Puppeteer by a team from Otaki (aged 9-12)
Genre: Documentary
Synopsis: A story of the strings that sustain a family tradition.

Tearaway Secondary School Performance Award
For a film made by young people of secondary school age with strong on-screen performance

Home by a team from Auckland (aged 16-18)
Genre: Video Essay
Synopsis: A young poet tells us a story about the challenges of life on the Southside.

Upstart Magazine Primary/Intermediate School Performance Award
For a film made by young people of primary or intermediate school age with strong on-screen performance

UNstuck by a team from Ellesmere College in Canterbury (aged 12-13)
Genre: Silent Movie
Synopsis: A plea for the voiceless victim of bullying, and a challenge for the complicit bystander.

THE OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

The Outlook for Someday in 2015 is based on partnerships between Connected Media Charitable Trust and The Body Shop New Zealand, the New Zealand Film Commission, Ministry of Youth Development, Department of Conservation (through the DOC Community Fund), Health Promotion Agency and Auckland Council.

Funding Partners are Te Māngai Pāho, NZ On Air, Creative New Zealand's Creative Communities Scheme, The Trusts Community Foundation, the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust, First Sovereign Trust, Youthtown, Infinity Foundation and Dragon Community Trust.

Regional Partners are Foundation North, Bay Trust, Trust Waikato, Eastern and Central Community Trust, Whanganui Community Foundation, Rātā Foundation, Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury, Central Lakes Trust and Otago Community Trust.

Media Partners are Element Magazine, The Wireless, The 4.30 Show, What Now, Tearaway, Upstart Magazine, Coconut Wireless, Web Show Central, Yours.nz, and Green Ideas Magazine.

Photogear is Technology Partner and the Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand is Industry Partner.

Paper and Print Partners are Rockstock, B&F Papers and Soar Print.

Event Partners are Auckland Live, Austin's and All Good.

Supporting Partners are Toimata Foundation and Accelerating Aotearoa.

O'Halloran North Shore is Accountancy Partner and Stephens Lawyers is Honorary Legal Advisor.

Project Supporters are AS Colour, Auckland Actors, Defender Bags, ecostore, El Framo, Hire Plants, Kahra Scott-James, Karousel Screenprinting, Levi's® Stores, Lothlorien Organic Fruit Juices, MediaPasifika, New Zealand Post, Orcon, Pastel City, Votre Arme and WWF New Zealand.

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