'Last Minute' wins schools' film competition

Art house, silent, musical and documentary, the Otago Secondary Schools Film Competition had it all - and maybe even the next Peter Jackson.

Thirteen short films created by Otago pupils screened at Logan Park High School last week.

After deliberation, guest judge Alan Baddock announced Logan Park pupil Mickey Treadwell's film Last Minute the winner.

He described the film as the "full package" and said Mickey could leave school and walk straight into a job in the industry.

Head of English and media studies at Logan Park Kristan Mouat said all the films were of a "high standard" after each school selected their top film to compete.

Pupils were given about one term to write, direct, film and edit their masterpieces and enjoyed the opportunity to share them with each other.

Ms Mouat believed it was an "exciting time for young film makers" as it was a fast-growing subject and industry in New Zealand.

Results: Last Minute, Mickey Treadwell, Logan Park High School, 1; In the Wake, Suzanna Mangos and Emily Berryman, Queens High School, 2; The Wind and the Rain, Flora Knight, Logan Park High School, 3.

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz