Kiwis Win Big in BAFTAs

Congratulations are in order for our Kiwi digital artists who won in the recently concluded 2010 BAFTAs or the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, an accomplishment that truly makes us all proud to be Kiwis.

They are the first all-Kiwi team to win in the BAFTAs, or any other award giving body for film for that matter – a fact that the team is extremely proud of and excited about.

Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew Jones, all digital effects artists from Weta Digital make up this award-winning team who created the amazing effects that allowed James Cameron’s “Avatar” world to come to life.

The film, which made more than $2 billion since its December debut was a 3-year digital labor of love for the Weta team. But for now, they are enjoying the award, which they accepted in London last Sunday, 21st of February, and are looking forward to the Oscars, which they are also nominated in for the same category.

Another Kiwi team was also nominated in BAFTA for their sound work for the film District 9. Michael Hedges, Brent Burge, Dave Whitehead, Ken Saville and Chris Ward were all thrilled to be nominated even though they lost to big winner Hurt Locker.
Great job, guys!  

(L-R) Richard Baheham, Andrew Jones, Stephen Rosenbaum and Joe Letteri