The 15th Annual Wattie’s Cans Film Festival

29 October 2008

MEDIA RELEASE

FESTIVAL DE CANS in New Zealand – ONE NIGHT ONLY

The 15th Annual Wattie’s Cans Film Festival

Screening Nationwide - TONIGHT - Wednesday 29 October, 2008

Requests on Salvation Army food banks are up 20% on this time last year, and their busiest period of the year is yet to come. When the Sallies most need our support, here’s an easy and entertaining way to help.

The 15th Annual Wattie’s Cans Film Festival is on tonight for one night only, and a can of food will get you into the movies and at the same time boost supplies for the Salvation Army Christmas Food Banks. The Festival, being held in 37 cinemas across New Zealand, will give people the chance to enjoy a blockbuster movie from a selection of the latest and greatest titles in exchange for only A CAN OF FOOD. Over the past nine days people have been swapping cans of food for the year’s cheapest movie ticket!

All cans donated go to local Salvation Army food banks, and are matched by Wattie’s can-for-can, giving a much-needed boost to the Christmas Food Bank Appeal.

Salvation Army’s National Spokesperson Major Robert Ross says their food banks are currently feeling the squeeze at both ends with fewer donations but increased demand.

“Requests on our food banks are up 20%, but donations are down, no doubt the result of rising food costs and shrinking family budgets effects of the current economic downturn.

“As it has in the past, we’re confident the Wattie’s Cans Film Festival will go a long way towards relieving some of the pressure put on food banks over Christmas and the summer holiday period which is the busiest time of year for food banks.”

Last year 22,130 cans were donated by the public – enough to assist The Salvation Army to help around 9,500 families.

This year, Festival ambassadors and popular Kiwi band OPSHOP, are encouraging people to support the Salvation Army through the Festival.

“We were thrilled to be able to work with the Salvation Army on our last tour by asking people to bring along a can of food to our show. We were blown away with the generosity of people and hope that even more donations will be received for the Wattie’s Cans Film Festival.

“Plus it’s a great chance to catch up on a movie if you missed it earlier in the year!”

With the generous support of Hoyts, SKYCITY, Reading and independent cinemas, the festival will include recent blockbuster hits including Hancock, Iron Man, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull. Popular family titles include: Kung Fu Panda, Horton Hears a Who, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

For a complete listing of all films screening and participating cinemas visit www.watties.co.nz

It’s not too late to come in, donate a can and see a movie for a great cause!

Even if you can’t make it to a movie, feel free to donate a can or two to the cause at your local cinema.

What:              15th Annual Wattie’s Cans Film Festival

When:             TONIGHT – Wednesday 29 October 2008

Where:            Nationwide, please see www.watties.co.nz for participating cinemas

ENDS

© Scoop Media