1971 Winners

Feltex Awards Scope Widened

From the NZ Listener July 13, 1971

Television on-camera performers and personalities will be eligible for future Feltex Television Awards. This has been announced by the Television Producers’ and Directors’ Association (TWPDA), Which set up the award scheme for the first time last year.

At a meeting of executives of the association and representatives of the sponsors — Feltex (NZ), Ltd — it was agreed that, starting this year, awards will be made to the best actor or actress of the year for the best light-entertainment performance and for the best on-camera (front man, interviewer. or the like) personality performance.

There will be two awards for the directors, or producers, of the two best television programmes shown during the calendar year.

The sixth award. the TVPDA professional award for the most significant contribution — to the development of some aspect of television production, will remain as for last year.

Details of the amended scheme have yet to be settled but will be announced later in the — year, together with names of the judging panels,

Announcing the revised scheme the president of TVPDA, Terry Bryan, said his association and Feltex agreed that the awards had already gone a long way towards achieving their main purpose of encouraging higher standards of television production.

But, he said, it was also agreed, and there is wide public support for this, that the scope of the awards should be extended to acknowledge the work of on-camera performers such as actors, interviewers, Singers, dancers, and others.

Clearly these people play a major role in the success or otherwise of any programme and it is appropriate that there contribution should be recognised and the most outstanding effort rewarded, Mr Bryan said.

The new system allows for awards to the best performers in all programme categories. Similarly the awards for producers or directors cover all types of programmes and will recognise the outstanding achievements in light entertainment, drama, and the arts, speciality and documentary, and current affairs sections. However, the final awards will go to the two best shows of the year regardless of category.

This year’s awards will be presented in Auckland. Last year the event was televised live on the . national network from Wellington.

Last year, with the exception of the TVPDA professional award, only directors and producers were eligible for awards presented in five categories: public affairs, documentary, arts, speciality, and light entertainment. |