Lucy Lawless - On Film Magazine 1 May 2004

WIFTI summit goes swimmingly.(WIFTI Conference)

WIFTI SUMMIT GOES SWIMMINGLY: The biennial international summit conference of Women in Film and Television International (WlFT1) was held in Auckland on April 21-24, with several hundred delegates from WIF and Will chapters around the world and NZ. Organised by WIFT NZ, the conference featured numerous workshops, networking opportunities and screenings of delegates' work.

A pitching competition--the prize for which was complimentary registration at the Banff International Television Festival--was won by Sue Wolfonden and Felicity Williams of Christchurch's Papageno Productions for their charming children's show concept, Where's My Cuddly. Six local women film and television makers were also honoured at a luncheon attended by PM Helen Clark on the summit's final day:.

Ainsley Gardiner and Leanne Saunders received emerging producers awards; June Christie won the WIFTI award for international achievement in television; Ngila Dickson was acknowledged with the WIFTI NZ outstanding achievement award; Fran Walsh was cited fo International achievement in film; and Niki Caro was given the WIFTI "Woman to Watch" award. Fiona Milburn, who's the chair of WIFTI Auckland and was one of the hosts of the event, confirms Onfilm's impression that the event went "fabulously well. With things like this, you always have a list of things you want to achieve and I'm delighted to say that there are ticks in every box--the conference featured stimulating conversations and debates, and deals ware done. In short, everyone was happy--the international guests, the locals and the sponsors."

Milburn was also honoured by being appointed the chair of the international organisation for the next two years, though she's typical modest about this acknowledgement: "It's really e recognition of WIFT NZ as a whole, and the fact that it's a happening organisation that's part of a happening local industry," she says.

And the WIFTI conference attendees pictured ere: 1 Ainsley Gardiner 2 Cliff Curtis and WIFTI president Mike (Muriel) Peters 3 WIFTI Auckland patron Ramai Hayward, WIFTI Summit patron Lucy Lawless 4 Leanne Saunders 5 Sue Wolfenden, Felicity Williams 6 Julie Christie 7 (at back l-r) Dorothy Rompalske (WIFTI administrator, NY), Ina Fichman (Montreal), Carol Savoie (Los Angeles), Gayle Economos (Maryland), Lacy Lawless, Keicha Castle-Hughes, Niki Caro, Muriel Peters, Liz Stevens (Australia), Ngila Dickson; (in front l-r) Grace Wang (United Kingdom), Adair Simon (Atlanta), Doreen Blunt (Washington DC); Fiona Milburn