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Spada is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Vincent Burke Scholarship, which aims to support the next generation of New Zealand producers by providing an annual grant of$5,000 to assist the advancement of their projects, companies, or careers.

In loving memory of her brother, Wendy Pringle has generously bequeathed proceeds from Vincent’s estate to Spada to establish this Scholarship, dedicated to supporting emerging producers—a cause Vincent championed throughout his remarkable career. 

Spada would also like to thank Vincent’s longtime colleague Laurie Clarke for his help in establishing this Scholarship.

Vincent Burke worked in the New Zealand screen industry for over 30 years and was noted for addressing social issues and stories from everyday life. His production company Top Shelf created many award-winning documentaries and factual series including ‘All About Eve’ (1991), ‘Cinema of Unease’ (1996) and the ambitious ‘Frontier of Dreams’ (2004). Vincent also had a love of drama, producing ‘Flight of the Albatross’ (1995) and co-producing ‘Predicament’ (2010). In more recent years he produced feature documentary ‘100 Men’ (2017) and was an executive producer on the first Tongan feature film ‘For My Father’s Kingdom’ (2019).

Vincent was widely respected as an “elder statesman” of our industry. As President of Spada during its days as the NZ Film & Video Training Board, he made a lasting impact. In 2012, Vincent was awarded the Spada/Databook Industry Champion Award in recognition of his remarkable career and his dedication to mentoring, mediating, and supporting the industry, its people, and their stories.

Vincent’s enduring legacy lives on through the opportunity created by the Vincent Burke Scholarship, which aims to empower the next generation of New Zealand screen producers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> Download the Vincent Burke Scholarship criteria and entry form HERE