Acadamy Award Nominees to Celebrate NZ Film
Tehanu @ 1:46 am EST

Nominees and industry heavyweights will mingle in a fantastical setting at this annual exclusive dinner in Los Angeles.

A mystical theme from "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" will greet guests for the fourth annual celebration of New Zealand Filmmaking and Creative Talent dinner on Friday, Feb. 25 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

NZ is celebrating three Academy Award nominations this year, including "Two Cars, One Night" (Best Short Film), Andrew Adamson (Shrek 2, Best Animated Feature) and Joe Letteri, lately of LOTR, (I Robot, Best Visual Effects).

Productions in New Zealand in the past 12 months include "Narnia," (which is based on teh classic CS Lewis novel and directed by Andrew Adamson); "King Kong," (directed by Peter Jackson with Naomi Watts and Adrien Brody); "The World's Fastest Indian" (with Anthony Hopkins,) "River Queen" (with Kiefer Sutherland and Samantha Morton, "Legend of Zorro" (with Catherine Zeta Jones and Antonio Banderas); "Without a Paddle" (with Seth Green and Matthew Lillard); "Perfect Creature" (with Dougray Scott) and "Boogeyman (with Lucy Lawless).

Andrew Adamson will be there, among others.

"New Zealand filmmakng is going from strength to strength," notes Rob Taylor, the NZ Consul General, Los Angeles. "Oscar Weekend is the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate with our friends and colleagues in Hollywood."

Hosted by the New Zealand Ambassador to theUS, the Honorable John Wood - with support from TheNew Zealand Consulate-General and Investment New Zealand - the dinner will feature keynote speaker producer Rob Tapert (Boogeyman) and a three course indigenous menu of New Zealand salmon, beef and blueberries, complemented by Morton Estate wine.