Film Archive tips its hat to some of our finest

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NZFA MEDIA RELEASE THURSDAY 29 March 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday night at the Film Archive is New Zealand Features Night. However for the next three months audiences are in for something a little different…

From Wednesday 4 April a special selection of New Zealand films either made by, featuring or including the work of Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award

recipients, will be screened once a week on Wednesday nights until 4 July.

Joining forces with The Arts Foundation of New Zealand to showcase this proud selection, the Film Archive will honour the work of Laureates:

Douglas Wright (Laureate 2000),

Gaylene Preston (2001),

Shona McCullagh (2002),

Don McGlashan (2002),

Michael Hurst (2003),

Barry Barclay (2004),

Alun Bollinger (2006) and

Oscar Kightley (2006).

Programme Curator Diane Pivac says “The great thing about the Laureate Awards is that they recognise the full range of art forms. In this carefully selected line-up we see the work of composers, dancers, writers, musicians, cinematographers, producers, actors as well as our film makers. It’s important to honour these contributions and see some exceptional New Zealand film making in the process.”

“Many of these films have never been screened before at the Archive and it’s a great opportunity for the public to come and see gems like

The Feathers of Peace or old classics such as Gaylene Preston’s Mr Wrong from 1985.”

The Arts Foundation of New Zealand was founded in 1998 by a group of dedicated arts patrons, who wanted to enable New Zealanders to celebrate and support artistic excellence across all art forms through collective patronage.

The Arts Foundation Laureate Awards, presented by Forsyth Barr, are an investment in artistic excellence. Annually, five exceptional New Zealand artists are awarded an amount of $50,000 (generated from the Foundation's Endowment fund) in recognition of their artistic achievements to date, and as a challenge to continue working at high levels. The Arts Foundation has acknowledged 34 Laureate Artists, with donations totalling $1.4million.

“I was gobsmacked when I was told of this [Laureate] Award. It's great to be acknowledged in this way 'cos in my game we're not always acknowledged as artists. I understand these Awards are for mid career artists. I started when I was quite young so I figure if I'm mid career now, I'll still be doing work when I'm 98.” Alun Bollinger, Cinematographer, Laureate 2006

The selection of 13 films screen on Wednesdays at the Film Archive from 4 April through to 4 July.

FULL EVENT PROGRAMME

The films all screen at 6.30pm in the NZ Community Trust Mediatheatre, Film Archive cnr Ghuznee and Taranaki Sts

4 April Mr Wrong, 1985, PG–contains violence. Director: Gaylene Preston

11 April War Stories, 1995, G. Director: Gaylene Preston, Cinematography: Alun Bollinger

18 April Perfect Strangers, 2003, M–low level violence, Director: Gaylene Preston, Cinematography: Alun Bollinger

2 May Haunting Douglas, 2002, M–offensive language & nudity. Director: Leanne Pooley, Producers: Leanne Pooley & Shona McCullagh. With screenings of Shona McCullagh's short films Hurtle, Fly and Break

9 May An Angel at My Table, 1990, PG–coarse language. Director: Jane Campion, Composer: Don McGlashan

16 May No 2, 2006, PG. Director: Toa Fraser, Composer: Don McGlashan. With a screening of The Front Lawn classic short film Walk Short

23 May Desperate Remedies, 1993, M–sex scenes. Directors: Stewart Main, Peter Wells. Starring Michael Hurst

30 May Jubilee, 2000, M–offensive language & violence. Director: Michael Hurst

6 June Ngati, 1987, PG–coarse language. Director: Barry Barclay

13 June The Feathers of Peace, 2000, PG. Director: Barry Barclay

20 June Heavenly Creatures, 1995, PG. Director: Peter Jackson, Cinematography: Alun Bollinger

27 June River Queen, 2005, M–violence. Director: Vincent Ward, Cinematography: Alun Bollinger

4 July Sione's Wedding, 2006, M-offensive language & sexual references. Director: Chris Graham, Writers: James Griffin & Oscar Kightley. With: Oscar Kightley

For further information on Arts Foundation Laureates of
New Zealand Laureates – The Films and high resolution images please contact:

ENDS

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