'Whale Rider' scoops awards

As expected, local film phenomenon Whale Rider took away the bulk of the prizes at this year's New Zealand Film Awards held in Auckland last night .

The film, which has won a swag of prizes at overseas festivals, won nine of the 14 categories it had been nominated for, including best picture, best director for Niki Caro, and best actress for Keisha Castle-Hughes, who played the lead character, Paikea.

The only major award it was pipped in was best actor, which went to Waihoroi Shortland for his role as Shylock in The Maori Merchant Of Venice.

The only other feature to make its presence felt was NZ-Canadian-British co-production Nemesis Game. The thriller won four awards - for best make-up, best design, best editing and best cinematography.

Caro is in the United States. Her best screenplay award was accepted on her behalf by Whale Rider author Witi Ihimaera, while the best director award was accepted by Hone Taumaunu, the kaumatua of Whangara where the movie was set and filmed.

Taumaunu's grandson, Mana, also won the best juvenile performer award for his role in the film.

In the digital feature section, the awards were dominated by Gregory King's drama Christmas

The awards were postponed from last month after the Academy of Film & Television Arts (AFTA) couldn't secure sufficient sponsorship but rescheduled and shifted to Auckland from Wellington after a film industry fundraising drive.

The winners:

Feature films

Best Film: Whale Rider (producers Tim Sanders, John Barnett)

Best Director: Niki Caro (Whale Rider)

Best Actor: Waihoroi Shortland (The Maori Merchant of Venice)

Best Actress: Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider)

Best Screenplay: Niki Caro (Whale Rider)

Best Juvenile Performer: Mana Taumaunu (Whale Rider)

Best Supporting Actress: Vicky Haughton (Whale Rider)

Best Supporting Actor: Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider)

Best Editing: Bruce Lange (Nemesis Game)

Best Cinematography: Aaron Morton (Nemesis Game)

Best Makeup: Barbara Barkey (Nemesis Game)

Best Costume Design: Kirsty Cameron (Whale Rider)

Best Design: Peter Cosco (Nemesis Game)

Best Contribution to a Soundtrack: Tim Prebble, Dave Whitehead, Gethin Greagh (The Locals)

Best Original Music: Lisa Gerrard (Whale Rider)

Digital Features

Best Technical Contribution: Caroline Faigan (Christmas)

Best Script: Gregory King (Christmas)

Best Performance: Darien Takle (Christmas)

Best Digital Feature: Christmas (produced by Leanne Saunders, Gregory King)

Special Jury Prize: Christopher Brown for his role in Orphans and Angels

Short films

Best Short Film: Beautiful (Adam Stevens)Best Script: Taika Waititi (Two Cars, One Night)

Best Performance: Rangi Ngamoki (Two Cars, One Night)

Best Technical Contribution: Adam Clarke (Two Cars, One Night)