Pre-earthquake Christchurch film to premiere next month

*Media Release *

*July 18, 2011*

*Pre-earthquake Christchurch film to premiere next month*

Independent Kiwi feature film, *The Holy Roller*, is set to premiere soon in Christchurch, where it was filmed prior to the city’s devastating earthquakes.

The 90-minute comedy-drama will premiere at Hoyts Northlands, Christchurch, on Tuesday 23rd August at 8:15pm, as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival, and will be released nationwide on 15th September throughRialto, Hoyts and Event Cinemas.

Writer and lead actor, Angus Benfield, believes this is the first feature film shot in Christchurch to premiere since the earthquakes and may be the only one for a long time, due to the damage to the city’s infrastructure.

*The Holy Roller* is a comedy-drama about a struggling pastor who transforms a seedy nightclub into a successful church, much to the displeasure of the local crime lords.

“It’s an honour for our film to be premiered during the Christchurch leg of the New Zealand International Film Festival. It’s a great film about a great city,” Benfield says.

The independently-financed film was written by Benfield (*Lex & Rory, E-Street, Wait Up Harriet*), directed by Kiwi director Patrick Gillies (*Offensive Behaviour, Kitty, Huhu Attack!*), and involved a cast of around 48 actors, 36 crew and about 100 extras.

Actors include Jeremy Brennan (Australia), Michael Maxwell (Spain), New Zealand’s Victoria Abbott, Ron Rodger, Martin Howells, Patrick Duffy, Al “Frank Flash” Kincaid, and Mark Hadlow, who was recently cast in the role of Dori in Peter Jackson’s *The Hobbit. The Holy Roller* also features cameos by Christchurch-based television personalities Simon Barnett and Jason Gunn.

*The Holy Roller* was shot entirely on location in Christchurch, New Zealand, over the course of 15 days in early 2009, with three days of pick-ups since. It is believed to be the first New Zealand feature film to be shot entirely on the 4K R3D ONE camera.

Benfield estimates that between 25% to 30% of the film’s locations have been destroyed or severely damaged in the earthquakes.

“Many of the key scenes were filmed in what is now the red zone, including the CTV building, so this premiere holds special significance for all the cast and crew, most of whom are Christchurch or Canterbury-based.

“Many of the crew were directly affected by the devastating earthquakes and this film is dedicated to those who lost their lives and those who worked to rescue the survivors.”

In addition to the New Zealand International Film Festival, *The Holy Roller * has also been selected for the New-Media Fest in Arizona, the Cine Con Valor International Film Festival in Mexico, the JP2 International Film Festival in Florida, and the Projecting Hope Film Festival in North Carolina.

Aimed at mainstream audiences, *The Holy Roller* has already been acquired for North American distribution by IndustryWorks Pictures. An Australian theatrical release is scheduled for October/November through HM Heritage Distribution and an American theatrical release is planned for early 2012.

end

© Scoop Media