The Vista Foundation 48Hours filmmaking competition celebrates the winning films for 2022 – and we’re especially thrilled about this year’s Grand Champ.
On Friday night at the glorious Civic Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau, the 2022 Grand Final of Vista Foundation 48Hours saw the cream of the country’s creative crop recognised with the top awards. Here at Flicks we couldn’t be prouder, with our own Liam Maguren’s team Mitchell’s Here taking out the 2022 Grand National Champion Award with animated short Big Questions.
Maguren, the team’s leader and writer/director, also won Best Director for their film, which comes with the logline “A father struggles to answer his daughter’s questions”. Big Questions, picking at some uncomfortable truths about climate change angst, includes voice work from Dan Desmond (The Dad) and Emma Smart (The Daughter).
In his speech at the Grand Finals, Maguren recalled his long history of competing in 48Hours (having taken part almost every year since 2006, and directing from 2014 onwards): “In 2014, we were struggling to find someone who wanted to actually be a director, so I thought I’d give it a shot. We only had a small crew so I felt comfortable with that, and that was my first foray into directing in general.”
Today, when asked to reflect on the win, the Grand Champ says: “I’m flooded with gratitude for the award and the opportunities that lie ahead, a moment that wouldn’t exist without the unconditional support from my family, friends, and the 48Hours community over the years (especially my fellow Kiwi animators—you are all steadfast warriors).”
“I’m also humbled by all the people who have contacted me since to say how much the film resonated with them and, coming out of COP27, I can only hope Big Questions adds to the collective voices screaming at the powers that be for better change, faster.”
This year also saw team Child Support named 1st Runner Up with their short A Multitude of Ways to Leave your Lover. Missing Pixels’ short Love You Stranger was 2nd Runner Up.
You can watch their shorts below – head to the 48Hours Screening Room to see all 18 of the finalists.
Full list of Vista Foundation 48Hours winners:
2022 Grand Champ
Mitchell’s Here – Big Questions (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
2022 1st Runner Up
Child Support – A Multitude of Ways to Leave your Lover (Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington)
2022 2nd Runner Up
Missing Pixels – Love You Stranger (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
NZFMC Best Disqualified Film
wooah – Canniversary (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
Incredibly Strange Award
4 Million Ants – A Day in the Wasteland (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
Underwater Dreams – If You See Them (Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington)
Best Original Score/Song
Underwater Dreams – If You See Them (Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington)
Best Sound Design
Fix it in Production – OINK (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
Best Editing
chips cheese cats etc – TUMMY TIME! (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
Best Animation
A Small Blob Of Ice Cream – Ta Da (Ōtautahi / Christchurch)
Best Production Design
National Hero, Disqualified Tim – Deep (Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington)
Best Cinematography, supported by Rubber Monkey
Fix it in Production – OINK (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
Best Script
Child Support – Stella Reid(Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington)
Best Performer
Child Support – A Multitude of Ways to Leave your Lover – Stella Reid (Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington)
Best School
Cinnamon Cinemas – No Indemnity (St. Hilda’s Collegiate School – Ōtepoti / Dunedin)
Best Director
Mitchell’s Here – Big Questions (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
Viva La Dirt League Comedy Award
Lipstick Boys – Mime Hunter (Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington)
Ant’s Solo/Duo Award
A Small Blob Of Ice Cream – Ta Da (Ōtautahi / Christchurch)
Dame Gaylene Preston and Wift Best Female / Gender Diverse Director
Angle3 Pictures – Parked – Léah McVeagh (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland)
OPPO48 Award
Blood and Bone – Everyone is busy all at once (Ōtautahi / Christchurch)
