Five NZ Short Films Selected for Melbourne

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday 9 July 2010

Five NZ Short Films Selected for Melbourne

Australia’s largest and most critically acclaimed film festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival, has selected five short films from some of New Zealand’s most promising filmmaking talent.

The 59th Melbourne International Film Festival runs from July 22 to August 8, 2010. For more information visit the website: www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au.

Amadi, is writer/director Zia Mandviwalla’s third short film. Produced by Owen Hughes, it tells the heart wrenching story of a Rwandan refugee living in New Zealand and his mentally unstable neighbour. As their worlds fall apart, an unlikely connection occurs.

Choice Night is the second short film from the filmmaking team writer Paul Stanley Ward, director Chris Dudman and producer Vicky Pope. Fifteen-year-old James has everything before him, but the catch is he has to choose between the two things he wants the most. Their first short film, The Graffiti of Mr Tupaia, won Best Short Film at the NZ Qantas Film Awards in 2009.

Well known local music video director Sam Peacocke makes his short film debut with Manurewa. The film, produced by Kristian Eek, is a multi-stranded narrative inspired by the tragic robbery and shooting of liquor store owner Navtej Singh in Manurewa, Auckland, in 2008.

James Cunningham’s animation Poppy follows the true story of a New Zealand soldier who finds redemption in the hell of WWI. Poppy, produced by Paul Swadel and written by David Coyle has enjoyed wide success on the festival circuit, recently winning the jury prize at prestigious SIGGRAPH computer animation festival in Los Angeles.

Careful with that Crossbow is the third in Jason Stutter’s wildly popular ‘Careful’ series. This film has already enjoyed success at top short film festivals CFC Worldwide and Palm Springs.

Sam Peacocke, Chris Dudman and James Cunningham will travel to Melbourne to attend the festival’s Accelerator programme – with assistance from the NZ Film Commission. Zia Mandviwalla will also attend the festival.

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