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ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE 2021 SOUTH PACIFIC PICTURES 'BIG PITCH'

Even the COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t stop the 2021 South Pacific Pictures 'Big Pitch' from going ahead, with the shift to a virtual event ensuring six exciting projects were pitched to the judging panel that included Kelly Martin and Andrew Szusterman from South Pacific Pictures, alongside Steve Barr (TVNZ), Jo Smith (NZ Film Commission), Thomas Robins (Sky Originals), with guest judge and Oscar-winner Jon Landau.

Pitching their projects in the hope of winning $2,500 towards the development of their project and a complimentary registration to the 2022 SPADA Conference were Mark Westerby, Rene Le Bas, Gaylene Barnes, Ella West, Marie Tricart & Guillaume Renier, and Rajneel Singh & Annamarie Connors.


The 2021 South Pacific Pictures 'Big Pitch' participants await the announcement of the winner, with Sandy Gildea (SPADA), Kelly Martin (South Pacific Pictures), and guest judge Jon Landau.

The judges praised the range of ideas pitched, with Gaylene Barnes' project 'Ladies, A Knife' selected as the Winner of the 2021 South Pacific Pictures 'Big Pitch'. South Pacific Pictures CEO Kelly Martin said of the winning pitch, "It's a potentially multi-cultural story which can allow us to talk about what's happening now by looking back into the past. We think that this story has got the potential to develop characters that New Zealanders can really identify with."

Gaylene Barnes said, "the idea has been lingering for quite a few years, and it's perhaps a story New Zealand doesn't know it needs right now."

Guest judge Jon Landau said that when it comes to judging the pitches "It's never an easy conversation. I think it's important that the people who don't win realise that it's not that what they did was bad, it's because you have to pick a winner."

SPADA congratulates Gaylene on her successful pitch and commends all those who pitched their projects in this year's competition.

SPADA would also like to thank the judges, and long-standing sponsors South Pacific Pictures and Screenrights whose support of this event is invaluable.

The 2021 South Pacific Pictures BIG PITCH judges discuss the pitches before agreeing on this year's winner.