Latest News
May 2008
CDC and Screen Canterbury, in conjunction with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, are hosting screen industry workshops in Christchurch on June 4th and June 11th advising on how to Turn Screen Ideas into Scripts and Contracts.
Check out the pdf flyer below for more information.
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April 2008
The next edition of the DOCNZ Documentary Film Festival will be held in February to April 2009 and they are now open for submissions until the deadline of 31 July 2008.
Submissions for the DOCNZ Pitching Forum are also open until 31 July 2008.
For more information, check out the DOCNZ website at www.docnz.org.nz
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November 2007
Check out our highlights, achievements and statistics from the past couple of years in the 2006 & 2007 Film South Biennial Report, which is available to view as an Adobe PDF file;
Weta Collectibles Winner - Janelle from Firehorse Films is the lucky recipient of the Gothmog and Warg statue. Janelle was one of the first people to register as a member of The Film Shrine and loaded a 'bro Town animation cell for sale on the site. To enjoy a free trial subscription visit www.thefilmshrine.com
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October 2007
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! ... SOLD!
Are you one of the numerous New Zealanders with a Lord of the Rings t-shirt? How about a souvenir from The Chronicles of Narnia? A prop or wardrobe item from Hercules or Xena? If you've always thought they may be worth a fortune one day, here's your chance to find out.
Open for trading from October 15th www.thefilmshrine.com is a niche website designed exclusively for trading film and TV memorabilia. Even better news for film fans - its totally commission free.
Visitors can browse items on offer, list their own for sale or advertise wish lists of coveted memorabilia.
Plus all subscribers registering in October go in the draw to win a limited edition LOTR - Gothmog & Warg polystone statue from Sideshow Weta Collectibles worth .
So now is the perfect time to open your wardrobe and give some lights, camera and action to any surplus crew T-shirts, props, models, posters and costumes.
With all the great films made in our country we're sure it's not just New Zealanders who will enjoy this treasure trove, with collectibles from box office giants like The Lord of the Rings, King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia due to be listed alongside smashes such as World's Fastest Indian, Whale Rider and Once Were Warriors.
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October 2007
One of Film South's primary funding organisations has recently undergone a name change to better reflect its role in wider regional development - you can check out Development West Coast's new website at www.dwc.org.nz
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July 2007
New Zealand's very own town of Springfield, just an hour's drive west of Christchurch, is celebrating the upcoming release of The Simpsons Movie with a family fun day to be held on Sunday 15th July. There will be loads of entertainment for the whole family including a market, a chance to have your photo taken with Simpsons characters, and even an opportunity to sample Duff Beer! Prizes will be awarded on the day for the most look-alike or sound-alike Simpson. More information can be found at the Selwyn District Council's website.
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April 2007
Film South Marketing Awards Win
For the third year in a row, Canterbury and the West Coast's film and television information office, Film South, has won three marketing awards at the Association of Film Commissioners International's (AFCI) Locations Tradeshow in Los Angeles last weekend (14-15 April).
Film South picked up awards in three categories taking second place for their DVD "Timeless Land" and their black and white ad "Lost Location Inspiration?" promoting their extensive locations stills database.
  
They were also awarded third place for "Our Infinite Worlds", a colour advert created in a collaborative campaign with Film Wellington. The tag line "Not a battle too big... a tale too tall...nor a love too lost" invites film makers to explore lands, depicting Narnia, Skull Island and Middle Earth in some of the world's biggest box office successes to date.
Film South's Executive Manager, Jacqui Wood comments "to win nine marketing awards in three years is confirmation that our campaign to attract Hollywood location managers and producers, competes well alongside some of the worlds most well-funded film commissions".
Film New Zealand's board member, Peter Avery, noted that this year only Ausfilm (the Australian Marketing Agency) won more awards by territory, with four.
The AFCI Locations Trade Show is the industry's longest-running trade event for production locations and resources. With more than 300 member film commissions worldwide, the event exhibits to producers, directors, production managers, writers, location managers and anyone who needs information about shooting on-location.
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February 2007
Urban Outdoor Festival of Contemporary International Animation - This year sees the launch of the Urbis Animax Festival, which will take place in Christchurch, New Zealand, over five days in April. The event aims to take a collection of contemporary animation works from all around the world out into the urban landscape of Christchurch and light up selected locations with a display of exciting animated moving image projects!
Two categories are provided this year, traditional animation and digital animation with a prize offered for the overall best film ( ). The evening screenings will be free for the public to attend, the sessions will be around an hour in duration.
Submissions for this festival are welcomed. The earlybird deadline is 28th February, final deadline is 16th March 2007. For the inaugural festival, entry is free for New Zealand Film makers, and for international film makers, the entry fee is . You can enter the easy way by using Withoutabox or you can do it the "hard way", by contacting admin@belladonna.org.nz for details and an electronic entry form.
More details can be found at www.urbis-animax.com
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February 2007
The epic fantasy feature Dororo was released in Japan on January 28th and is currently enjoying the number one spot at the Japanese Box office.
Dororo shot entirely on location in our districts of Ashburton and Selwyn early last year including the Flock Hill site, also known as the battleground for Andrew Adamson's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.
Congratulations to everyone who worked on this film!
Visit the movie's official website for more information on the production
The film is produced by Tahashi Hirano (Kamikaze Girls) and directed by Akihiko Shiota (Yomigaeri) from a screenplay by Shiota and Nakamura Masaru. It is based on the comic book created by Osamu Tezuka which appeared serially in Weekly Shonen Sunday in 1967-68.
In addition to its comic book serialization, Dororo was also adapted into a 26 episode television series and as a Playstation 2 game and an animated feature film. This live action version stars Eita; Mieko Harada; Yoshio Harada; Kiichi Nakai and Anna Tsuchiya; with actress Kou Shibasaki as Dororo and Satoshi Tsumabuki as Hyakkimaru. The action choreographer is Ching Siu Tung.
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November 2006
Sand Dancer - www.forcefivefilms.co.nz
Sand Dancer, a documentary directed by Christchurch filmmaker Valerie Reid, scooped two major awards in one week. The film won the Audience Choice Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival's 7th International Digital Shorts Competition in Taipei and the Excellence in Documentary Film Making Award at the Magma Film Festival in Rotorua.
It is director Valerie Reid's fifth short film and she says,"Winning the Magma Festival prize in New Zealand for 'Excellence in Documentary Film Making' was a huge honour but two days later Sand Dancer picked up the Audience Choice Award in Taipei so it was a brilliant week! I think that audiences and film makers alike have enjoyed the film because the film's message of needing to follow ones heart applies to us all."
Forty-seven films out of a record 717 films submitted from 40 countries around the world, competed for just eight awards at the Golden Horse Festival, regarded as the Asian equivalent of the Oscars. Sand Dancer was the only New Zealand entry after it caught the attention of programmers when it screened at the March Du Film Short Film Corner in Cannes, France. It was also part of the DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival in Auckland and will screen at the Hagley Open Stage in Christchurch on December 14th.
Sand Dancer follows iconic sand artist Peter Donnelly who creates vast masterpieces in the sand on New Brighton Beach, Christchurch at low tide. Without the use of any plotting tools, he has only three hours before the first wave washes his efforts away. The film captures Donnelly's amazing art on film and gives an essence of the artist who's work attracts visitors from all over the world and featured on "Billy Connelly's Tour of New Zealand."
Sand Dancer's first outing was in the form of a three minute documentary in the Wet West Film Festival, which takes place in Hokitika on the West Coast on the South Island in January. The positive response from the audience and judges encouraged Reid to complete the project, building the film up to its current length of ten minutes.
"The Wet West Film Festival was the very first public screening and this support got the film out there," says Reid. "There is a massive link between Sand Dancer and Hokitika simply because it brings together two coasts and the culture of beach artists." She is entering the ten minute documentary in next year's event and looks forward to seeing the audience reaction to the extended version. Reid will be producing a feature length documentary focusing on Peter and his artworks in 2007.
For a signed Sand Art DVD by Peter Donnelly please contact Peter Donnelly at www.donnellygallery.co.nz
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April 2006
FILM SOUTH ROCKS
For the second year running, the regional film office for Canterbury and the West Coast, Film South, won three marketing awards at the Association of Film Commissions International's Locations Expo in Los Angeles on the weekend (7-9 April).
Film South picked up awards in all three of the categories in which they entered, taking third place for their direct marketing with a clever Christmas card depicting their iconic red barn logo. They also took third prize in the Colour Advertisement category in which they thanked director Andrew Adamson and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe production team.
"Our Land Speaks Volumes, Our People Make Classics" poster took second place behind AusFilm in the Specialty Items category, which Film South created in a collaborative campaign with Film Wellington.
Exhibiting for the first time at the Locations Expo, Film South�s Executive Manager Jacqui Wood says "there was enormous value in participating in the event along with national and regional film offices from all over the world. With sponsorship from the Canterbury Economic Development Fund and the West Coast Development Trust, we were successful in raising the profile of both regions in a highly competitive marketplace."
Film South secured two booths at the Expo with large rock formations characterizing each region; on the West Coast, Punakaiki's Pancake rocks and for the Canterbury, the Flock Hill rock from which Aslan roars in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Visitors were invited to put their hands into the rocks and pull out a 'treasure from our land' - greenstone, paua shells and other small gemstones, which were seen as a "really unique and original memento".
Wearing t-shirts proclaiming, Canterbury Rocks and West Coast Rocks, Ms Wood hosted visitors to the Canterbury stand with Punakaiki-based Location Scout Fiona McDonald promoting the West Coast from the other site. "This is the biggest opportunity the West Coast has had to put itself in front of the whole of Hollywood and the rest of the world," she says. "I think people were really surprised at all the West Coast had to offer, particularly the unique heritage architecture."
"Many people commented on the increased presence of the New Zealand screen industry at this year's Expo," says Ms Wood. "With the National Locations Marketing Office, Film New Zealand, there were three sites representing our locations and visitors could not fail to be exposed to what our districts have to offer." Film New Zealand also won three awards: Best Website, Best Logo and Best Production Guide. Film Venture Taranaki took third prize for its DVD (which Film South won last year along with second place for their logo and third prize in the web site category).
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March 2006
Film South New Zealand at AFCI Locations Expo
Californian based filmmakers interested in exploring more of New Zealand's spectacular South Island as featured in The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will have the perfect opportunity as Film South make their Expo Debut next week.
At this year's AFCI Locations Trade Show April 7-9, Film South has taken two stands. Booth 415 explores the eastern side of the Southern Alps with Canterbury's grand high country, cobalt lakes and expansive plains. Booth 806 celebrates the glaciers' vast drama, the wild, rugged coastlines and the sub-tropical wilderness of the West Coast.
Film South's Jacqui Wood (Heavenly Creatures, The Frighteners), location manager Fiona McDonald (Without a Paddle, Perfect Strangers) and Publicist Sian Clement (Whale Rider, The World's Fastest Indian) are teaming up to help Expo visitors explore the extreme diversity of South Island locations separated by just a 3 hour drive from coast to coast.
Enquiries are welcome via the stands or email info@filmsouth.com to arrange a specific project meeting between April 5 and 11.
AFCI Locations Trade Show is held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium see www.afci.org for more details.
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February 2006
Film South would like to congratulate Andrew Adamson, Walden Media, Disney Enterprises, and the entire team behind 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' on the film's phenomenal worldwide success, and its many award nominations and wins. Our whole region is immensely proud of its involvement and association with this wonderful piece of cinematic history.
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9 December 2005
An exhibition of the original location photographs sent to the Producers of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" will be on show in the Selwyn Gallery in Darfield (45 kilometres west of Christchurch). The exhibition runs from December 10th 2005 to January 21st 2006 - open Tuesday through Sunday, except public holidays.
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18 August 2005
Film South has been selected as a Finalist in the 2005 Champion Canterbury Awards. For more information, visit the awards website: www.championcanterbury.org.nz
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28 July 2005
CHRISTCHURCH TALENTS PICK UP 4 AWARDS AT NEW ZEALAND SCREEN AWARDS
Christchurch-born writer/director David Rittey, won Best Short for his film Closer, at last night's inaugural New Zealand Screen Awards. A film about a deaf teenage boy dealing with the loss of his sister, Closer also picked up Best Performance in a Short Film for the lead role of Nathan, played by Toby Agnew. A student of Hornby High School, Christchurch, Agnew, who is deaf himself was just fourteen when he made his acting debut in the film.
"It was a really great night and incredibly exciting for everyone involved in the film when we won," says Rittey, who graduated from the University of Canterbury in 1996 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In 2000 he attended the Victorian College of the Arts School of Film & Television in Melbourne. His graduating short film, Out of Darkness, another silent movie, won many awards including Best Short at the 2001 Drifting Clouds Short Film Festival in Wellington. Rittey used his prize money from this to make Closer, shot entirely in Christchurch and Selwyn District in April 2003.
"Congratulations to David for his continued success and to Toby for a fantastic film debut," comments Jacqui Wood, Executive Manager of regional film office Film South. "Short film is a great medium for identifying emerging screen talent and provides the perfect opportunity for crew to experiment and explore their creativity with young directors often more willing to take cinematic risks."
"We also congratulate Christchurch cinematographer Peter Young, who won the Sony Achievement in Camerawork (Documentary) Award for the documentary series Explorers and producer Anne Williams, who won Best Children's Programme (with Vanessa Alexander) for Being Eve." Williams is currently course leader of digital film and television production at Christchurch Polytechnic. Being Eve beat another local finalist - Sue Wolfenden for the Christchurch-based children's programme The Dress Up Box 3.
Gaylene Preston's Perfect Strangers, shot on the West Coast and starring Sam Neill,was nominated for eleven awards, but lost out to In My Father's Den, which scooped ten of the twelve categories, with Fracture winning Best Original Music and Best Costume.
Other local nominees included Gaylene Barnes for Best Editing (documentary) for Out of Sight: Out of Mind and director of photography John Crisstoffels for Technical Contribution to a Digital Feature for his work on Patrick Gillie's Offensive Behaviour.
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25 April 2005
Award Winning Film Office: Film South won a total of three awards at the 2005 AFCI Location Expo held in Los Angeles in April.
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