24 film and television awards were handed out in Auckland this lunchtime, leaving 35 to go at tomorrow night’s bash at the Civic. Close to 300 people turned up to the Town Hall, not so many as for the City Mission’s Christmas lunch, but a similarly impoverished bunch if the recent negotiations between broadcasters and NZ On Air around extending last year’s licence fee increases are anything to judge by.
Rhys Darby MCed the event, entertaining the crowd and keeping things moving along at a brisk pace. 2009 winner Pietra Brettkelly returned to present an award her film the art star and the sudanese twins won last year. Representatives of the organisers Rick Friesen (The Broadcasters Council) and Anna Cahill (Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand) got the ball rolling.
