NZ films take major prizes at film festival

Taika Waititi's film 'Boy' has won the Best Feature award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand films have won three of the six major awards in the Generation section of the Berlin International Film Festival over the weekend.

Taika Waititi's latest film Boy won the Best Feature award.

After the ceremony Waititi said he was thrilled with the award, which came with a cash prize.

The much-lauded short film, Six Dollar Fifty Man, received a special mention in the shorts section.

Written by Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, is was about an eight-year-old boy who retreats into a world of make-believe to escape playground bullying.

It had already won the International Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

The documentary This Way of Life was runner up in the Generation Award.

Shot over four years against the isolated Ruahine mountains and Waimarama beach in Hawkes Bay, the film follows Peter and Colleen Karena as they raise their six children and 50 horses on the brink of poverty.

Director Tom Burstyn said it was amazing that a self-funded, home-made documentary would receive a major prize against a comprehensive field of feature films.

The film was also recently chosen for official selection at the Palm Springs International Festival.

- NZPA