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WHALE RIDER WINS IN SAN FRANCISCO
MEDIA RELEASE: 06 MAY 2003

Whale Rider, the South Pacific Pictures-produced feature film, directed by Niki Caro, has won another Audience Award, this time at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

The VirginMega Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature was awarded to two films in a tied result, Whale Rider and The Cuckoo.

Whale Rider has also won the Canal Plus Audience Award at the 2003 Rotterdam International Film Festival, the World Cinema Audience Award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award in September 2002.

The latest award comes days before the Australian release of the film, on May 8, and just a month out from the United States release, on June 6.

“Whale Rider continues to captivate and charm audiences wherever it plays,” says producer John Barnett. “The Audience Awards are confirmation of its appeal.”

• Directed by Niki Caro, Whale Rider is based on the novel by acclaimed New Zealand writer Witi Ihimaera. It stars newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, and Cliff Curtis.

• Whale Rider is represented internationally by London-based sales agent, The Works, in New Zealand and Australia by Buena Vista International, and in North America by Newmarket Films.

• Whale Rider is produced by South Pacific Pictures, ApolloMedia and Pandora Film. The Producers are Tim Sanders, John Barnett, and Frank Hübner. Executive Producers are Bill Gavin and Linda Goldstein Knowlton. Author Witi Ihimaera is also Associate Producer.

• The film tells the story of a young girl’s fight to prove her love, her leadership and her destiny, and is shot on location in Whangara, on the East Coast.