As their Autumn Events screenings near their conclusion, the NZ International Film Festival has announced the first six films from the 2013 festival proper that will travel the country from mid-July to early November. Four Kiwi films will have their world premieres at the NZIFF: Antarctica: A Year on Ice, The Deadly Ponies Gang, Gardening with Soul and Soul in the Sea.
“These four early film confirmations give us great confidence about this year’s New Zealand programme. Once again we can only be humbled by the immense commitment of local filmmakers who have dedicated vast swathes of their time to getting the world on film, and have done it so persuasively,” says NZIFF Director Bill Gosden.
The NZIFF descriptions of these four films are as follows:
Antarctica: A Year on Ice
Director Anthony Powell has spent nine winters in Antarctica. A self-taught photographer, Anthony has built his own equipment to survive the harsh conditions and capture stunning time-lapse imagery. A Year on Ice shows us a part of the world most will never discover, in breath-taking hi-definition.
The Deadly Ponies Gang
Director Zoe McIntosh has found the Flight of the Conchords’ long-lost country cousins in Clint and Dwayne, the two members of the Deadly Ponies Gang, who talk of picking up ‘chicks’ on their blinged-out horses. Auckland’s legendary Golden Dawn stars as the venue for Dwayne’s false teeth fundraising gig.
Gardening with Soul
Director Jess Feast (Cowboys & Communists) joins Sister Loyola at the Home of Compassion in Island Bay, Wellington. Sister Loyola, a NZ Gardener of the Year, continues to tend to the community garden she established, now in her 90s, whilst providing refreshingly candid reflections on life and religion.
Soul in the Sea
Director Amy Taylor travelled to Whakatane after seeing media reports of a friendly lone dolphin named Moko. She spent the next six months documenting Moko’s time with the community, getting to know his friends and detractors.
Two American films’ NZ premieres have also been announced:
Dirty Wars
Investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill has produced this explosive documentary with director Rick Rowley about the secret ‘wars’ of the USA’s Joint Special Operations unit. Scahill’s book of the same title is being released this week.
Upstream Color
The year’s most tantalising cinematic whatsit comes nine years after writer, director, musician, editor, producer and star Shane Carruth first amazed audiences with his no-budget time-travel riddle Primer. The narrative, which defies detailed synopsis, concerns the uncanny merging of two lost souls, strangers, both utterly contemporary urban figures.
International filmmaker Alison Maclean (director of Crush, Jesus’ Son and classic Kiwi short Kitchen Sink) has also been confirmed as selector for the New Zealand International Film Festival’s New Zealand’s Best Shorts competition for 2013.
“Alison directed Kitchen Sink, a classic New Zealand short and one of the most frequently screened. Her features and TV work have never lost that same edge. We couldn’t be more pleased that this year’s shorts are being honoured with her attention.” says NZIFF Director Bill Gosden.
Alison is now based in New York and will be viewing a shortlist of 12 films for consideration for NZIFF’s NZ’s Best Short film competition. Her selection of five or six films will be announced on 30 May.
NZIFF dates for 2013 are confirmed for the following regions:
Auckland 18 July – 4 August
Wellington 26 July – 11 August
Christchurch 1 – 8 August
Dunedin 8 – 25 August
Gore 14 – 25 August
Palmerston North 15 August – 1 September
Hamilton 22 August – 15 September
Nelson 28 August – 15 September
Tauranga 12 – 29 September
Masterton 16 – 30 October
Hawke’s Bay 16 October – 3 November
New Plymouth 24 October – 6 November
The programme for NZIFF Auckland will be announced on Monday 24 June and Wellington on Thursday 27 June. Tickets will be on sale in Auckland from Friday 28 June, and in Wellington from Tuesday 2 July from Ticketek.
