NZ Film Month?

Ant Timpson, redoubtable cheerleader for film and father of the 48hours film comp, the Incredibly Strange Film Festival, and Headstrong, has issued a call for greater support for NZ film. In it he cites the successful NZ Music Month and writes:

"Could we transplant that concept to NZ FILM, where there's a focus on local content with plexes offering screen space to whole new audiences for a limited time? There could be a concentrated effort from all involved to celebrate local features/shorts and get these smaller films onto screens that are usually completely out of their reach. There would be direct and focused energy to celebrating NZ FILMS of all shapes and colours.

At present there is so much time and energy devoted to making these films by hard working (often with no pay) cast and crews but very little has been thought about the end game for all these films. The end game also means trying to get money back to these people for all their hard work."

In this piece he also raises the question of dedicated digital cinemas in the main centres of NZ - a great call. You can read the full piece here. Spread the word.