Virtual River In Palmerston North CBD

Palmerston North, NZ (29 MAY, 2013)

Don your virtual bathers and head down to Palmerston North’s Square from 5pm on Friday 7th June as Clocktower lights turn green and the Manawatu River flows in films projected onto it’s base.

The outdoor projections are as part of a diverting film art project from Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival, as part of the Horizons Manawatu River Accord.

The project, Te Awa: Outdoor Project(ion) is the brainchild of Reel Earth festival director Victoria Jakobs, as she was searching for ways to reach new audiences for Reel Earth.

“It’s a bit out of the box” says Reel Earth festival director Victoria Jakobs “We wanted to do something new with the festival to ‘take environmental films out of the cinema and to the people’. At the same time, Horizons Regional Council were looking for ways to raise the profile of, and engender greater pride in, the Manawatu River, and it just seemed a perfect way to meet both organisation’s objectives.”

The Te Awa: Outdoor Project(ion)s move about the inner city, and screen on three evenings leading up to and during Reel Earth, with some experimental screenings planned, including projecting onto the roof of the bus shelter on Main St/The Square.

“We’re not sure how that one will go, but we liked the unexpectedness of this. It’s all about making people stop and take notice of films with a message that they may not pay to go and hear about’ says Ms Jakobs.

“The local flavour is right through the project.” Ms Jakobs continues. “Images have been sourced locally including from Archives Central, other River Accord Projects, and even local residents holiday snapshots. The films, which are very art focussed, have been made by local filmmakers, scientists, designers and artists, with a range of experience levels from teenagers to UCOL graduates to Massey University Tutors and industry professionals.”

Support for the project has been overwhelmingly positive, says Ms Jakobs, and excitement is building.

Horizons Regional Council Communications Manager Caroline Rowe said that the novel concept of bringing the river into the city, and projecting it onto buildings outdoors gives the project huge appeal. She believes that the Te Awa: River Project(ion) will get people thinking about the region in new ways, and inspire greater pride in the river and waterways.

The Projections are followed each evening by a free screening of festival shorts at 50George, a gap-filler space between two buildings at 50 George St. The festival shorts include 2103 Sundance Best Animation Winner, “Irish Folk Furniture” and perennial favourites from The New Environmentalists series narrated by Robert Redford.

“50 George is probably best known for being home to ‘the nut man’ cart vendor, Willie Beauchamp, and as an underground venue in Palmy for the Guerilla Sessions.” Says Ms Jakobs. “Willie has created a beautiful outdoor space, and we’re really happy to be showing films there.”

Ms Jakobs suggests warm clothes, and says that koha are welcome.

TE AWA: OUTDOOR PROJECTION & OUTDOOR POP UP CINEMA

Fri 7th June:

5pm The Clock Tower, The Square.

6pm Number One Shoes Building, Broadway Ave & The Square.

7pm-9pm PopUp Cinema Enviro Shorts @ 50George, 50 George St

Wet weather reschedule to Wed 19th June.

Sat 15th June:

5pm The Globe Theatre, Main St.

6pm The Plaza Carpark, Ferguson St.

7pm-9pm PopUp Cinema Enviro Shorts @ 50George, 50 George St

Wet weather reschedule to start 6pm at The Plaza Carpark & stay till 9pm

Fri 21st June:

5pm Bus Depot, cnr Main St & The Square.

6pm Old Caltex, Cnr Main & Ruahine Sts (under cover).

7pm-9pm PopUp Cinema Enviro Shorts @ 50George, 50 George St

Wet weather – from 5pm at Old Caltex.

For postponements and live updates follow Reel Earth on:

Twitter.com/Reelearth

Facebook.com/ReelEarthFilmFest

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