New Zealand talent will be in the global spotlight today, with several Kiwis recognised at this year’s Academy Awards.
The 98th Academy Awards take place tomorrow, celebrating the best achievements in film over the past year, and New Zealand creatives are once again prominent among the nominees.
Wellington-based Wētā Workshop is recognised in the Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects categories for its work on Avatar: Fire and Ash. The studio played a major role across the two most recent Avatar films, creating more than 3,000 physical costumes and producing 18,500 concept designs.
Weta Workshop’s Flo Foxworthy told 1News the costumes seen on screen were first built physically, using natural materials such as shells and flax (harakeke), before being recreated digitally.
“We would take those shells and carve into them or replicate them in another way and integrate them into costumes,” Foxworthy said.
“They didn’t scan something and have it magically appear on screen — everything had to actually be rebuilt digitally, which was incredible.”
Costume designer Deborah Scott said the nomination was significant because it recognises costume design in a non‑traditional, digital format.
“They’re not looking at the live-action costumes, per se,” Scott said.
“They’re looking at the performance capture, digital version of this movie and saying, ‘those costumes are beautiful.’”
Kiwi costume designer Kate Hawley is also up for an Oscar for her work on Frankenstein, adding to a strong New Zealand presence at this year’s ceremony.
The awards themselves see American vampire thriller Sinners lead the field with a record-breaking 16 nominations, while box‑office hits One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme and Weapons were also competing for Best Picture.
The 98th Academy Awards are held today at 12.30pm New Zealand time.
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