Peter Jackson Selects Andres Borghi's Film 'Working Day' as 'Your Big Break' Winner to Air Leading into IFC Film Independent Spirit Awards

LOS ANGELES and AUCKLAND, New Zealand, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Award®-winning director Sir Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings) selected Andres Borghi from Argentina as winner of the 100% Pure New Zealand Presents Your Big Break (www.your-big-break.com) short film competition today. Borghi's film, "Working Day," will air on IFC just prior to the Film Independent Spirit Awards live broadcast on March 5 at 8 p.m. Pacific/11 p.m. Eastern.

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According to Jackson, "The standard of all five films was very high. Any of them deserve to win, but it came down to personal choice. (Working Day) stood out as a fresh and original piece of storytelling. This was an extremely accomplished piece and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Andres' future work."

"100% Pure New Zealand jump started my work and career," says Borghi, who also acted in his film. "I also thank Peter and Barrie for helping me polish my work and gain international exposure."

Jackson selected the film after five finalists traveled to Queenstown, New Zealand, where they shot and directed short films to capture the essence of the world's youngest country with help from Academy Award®-winning producer Barrie Osborne and world class post-production facility Park Road Post Production. The finalists were selected by Osborne and a panel of judges from a pool of over 1,000 screenplays submitted between December 9, 2009 and January 15, 2010.

All five finalists' films will screen in front of hundreds of the entertainment industry's brightest at the 100% Pure New Zealand lounge at the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards, of which 100% Pure New Zealand is a Principal Sponsor, and on the Your Big Break Web site, www.your-big-break.com.

"'Working Day' captures New Zealand's stunning landscape, diversity of people and richness of culture," says Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler. "With this and the other completed films, we now have five wonderful assets to promote the country to potential visitors."

Useful links:

Your Big Break website: www.your-big-break.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourBigBreak

On Twitter:  http://twitter.com/YourBigBreakNZ

For inspiration: www.newzealand.com

For information about New Zealand's extensive vacation options, log onto the 100% Pure New Zealand website at http://www.NewZealand.com.  

For other media information, log on to http://www.media.newzealand.com.  For high-resolution images, visit http://www.images.newzealand.com.  

ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS The Film Independent Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. Televised in millions of homes and covered internationally by the press, the Spirit Awards has become the vanguard event in independent film, recognizing the achievements of independent filmmakers and promoting independent film to a wider audience.

SOURCE Tourism New Zealand