Film director and winner at this year's Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festiva Claire van Beek has won the Emerging Talent Award for her short film Daniel.
Claire explains to Lynn Freeman the film is named after a lizard who plays a prominent role in this erotic tale of a young novice's journey to self acceptance at an isolated convent.
The jury praised the film as "unusual, inventive and surprising. Beautifully photographed and edited, it achieves a simmering intensity and reveals a strong director's vision".
Nice words surely for Claire, who has volunteered at the NZIFF for the past 10 years. Daniel is screening at the Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival until Aug 1st , and is certified for a "mature" audience.