New Zealand filmmakers and artists have secured major recognition at the Academy Awards, winning top honours in the Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects categories.
New Zealand costume designer Kate Hawley won the Best Costume Design award for her work on the film Frankenstein.
Hawley accepted the award from former Anna Wintour and actress Anne Hathaway, and paid tribute to the people behind her work.
"It’s been such a privilege to stand alongside so many incredible designers," she said while acknowledging fellow nominees and collaborators, as quoted by 1News.
Hawley also thanked director Guillermo del Toro for guiding the project, describing it as “a great privilege” to be part of his creative vision. "Our nominations are your nominations," she said, sharing the recognition with the film’s wider production team and cast, 1News has quoted.
She also thanked her family, supporters in New Zealand, and the team at Netflix, which backed the film.
"I’m so, so grateful. Thank you very much for recognising our craft," as quoted by 1News.
Meanwhile, Wellington-based visual effects company Wētā FX won the Best Visual Effects award for its work on Avatar: Fire and Ash, directed by James Cameron.
Visual effects artists Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett accepted the award on behalf of the more than 1,200 crew members who worked on the project.
"We are overwhelmed with gratitude and deeply honoured to receive the Visual Effects award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for our work on Avatar: Fire and Ash," they said.
"To be recognised by the Academy is something we never take lightly. This award represents years of passion, risk, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in what cinema can achieve when artistry and technology move together in service of story, 1News has reported.
"We also want to acknowledge the extraordinary film community of New Zealand. The talent, generosity, and collaborative spirit here are unlike anywhere else.
"It is a privilege to create alongside such dedicated and innovative people, and to bring world-class filmmaking to the global stage from this remarkable corner of the world," 1News has quoted.
Wētā FX’s head of visual effects Matt Aitken said the recognition capped a strong awards season for the studio.
"We are proud every day of the work we do and our incredibly talented, best-in-class crew, so it is a true honour for everyone’s efforts to be recognised with the most prestigious accolades in our industry," as quoted by 1News.
The Oscar and BAFTA Awards trophies won by the film will now be returned to the Wētā FX studios in Wellington, as reported by 1News.
With this latest win, all three films in Cameron’s Avatar series have now received the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
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