Four New Zealand Film Commission funded short films have been selected to compete in the Generation Section of the 58th Berlin International Film Festival this February.
The Generation Programme of the Berlin International Film Festival is the competitive section for children and youth. Run, Taua (War Party) and The Trophy will compete with 15 other international shorts in the Generation Kplus programme. Take 3 will compete with 12 international shorts in the Generation 14plus section.
This announcement follows invitations for Taua (War Party) to screen in Official Selection of the 37th International Film Festival Rotterdam in late January, and the international competition of the most important short film event in the world, the 30th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, in early February.
‘We are absolutely thrilled that four New Zealand short films have been selected for the Berlin Film Festival as it is considered one of the most important festivals in the world,’ says the NZFC Short Film Sales & Marketing Manager, Juliette Veber. ‘With Taua’s official selections to screen at Rotterdam and Clermont-Ferrand as well, it’s a great start to the year for New Zealand short films.’
‘It’s great that three leading European festivals find resonance with stories that New Zealanders are telling from the other side of the world,’ says Veber.
Run’s selection to Berlin follows a premiere in the official competition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in May 2007, where it received an Honourable Mention.
Take 3 and The Trophy will have their world premieres at the Berlin Film Festival.
Taua is written and directed by Tearepa Kahi and produced by Quinton Hita. It’s based on the Maori proverb: Mate atu he tëtë kura, ara mai anö he tëtëkura – In war, leaders fall and leaders rise.
Run is written by Louis Sutherland (who plays the father in the film), directed by Mark Albiston and produced by Robin Murphy.
The Trophy is written and produced by Justine and Paul Simei-Barton, and directed by Justine Simei-Barton.
Take 3 is written and directed by Roseanne Liang and produced by Owen Hughes.
Run, Take 3 and Taua were funded by the Short Film Fund of the New Zealand Film Commission. Taua received additional seed grant from National Geographic All Roads Film Project. The Trophy was funded by the Screen Innovation Production Fund, a partnership between the New Zealand Film Commission and Creative New Zealand, with post production funding from the New Zealand Film Commission.
The producer and director teams from Taua, The Trophy and Take 3 will travel to Berlin with assistance from the New Zealand Film Commission, to attend the competition screenings.
Taua
(15 minutes)
Writer/Director: Tearepa Kahi
Producer: Quinton Hita
Production Company: Kura Productions
International Sales: New Zealand Film
Cast: Reweti Te Mete, Graham Hohapata, Antonio Te Maioha, Vaughn Ahchee Ti Tore, Te Kotuiti Tuarua
Synopsis: When a boy shows compassion amidst rival Mäori tribes at war, one leader falls, another rises.
Festivals:
Honourable Mention – ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival 2007
Best Short Film – National Geographic All Roads Film Festival 2007
Official Selection – 61st Edinburgh International Film Festival 2007
Official Selection – 37th International Film Festival Rotterdam 2008
In Competition – 30th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival 2008
58th Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin – Generation Kplus 2008
Run
(15 minutes)
Writer: Louis Sutherland
Director: Mark Albiston
Producer: Robin Murphy
Production Company: Fast Feet Productions Limited
International Sales: New Zealand Film
Cast: Tyrrell Samia, Helayna Seiuli, Louis Sutherland
Synopsis: A Samoan brother and sister are forced to overcome their difficulties as they stand up to their controlling father
Festivals:
Honourable Mention – Official Competition – Festival de Cannes, France 2007
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia 2007
49th International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao, 2007
17th Flickerfest Short Film Festival, Australia, 2007
58th Berlin International Film Festival, Germany – Generation Kplus, 2008
The Trophy
(11 minutes)
Writers: Justine Simei-Barton, Paul Simei-Barton
Director: Justine Simei-Barton
Producers: Justine Simei-Barton, Paul Simei-Bargon
Production Company: Tala Pasifika Productions Limited
International Sales: New Zealand Film
Cast: Lesieli Vao, Canada Alofa
Synopsis: A young girl’s commitment to a science project investigating worm farming wins her a trophy, but creates tension within her traditional Samoan family.
Take 3
(12 minutes)
Writer/Director: Roseanne Liang
Producer: Owen Hughes
Production Company: Frame Up Films Limited
International Sales: New Zealand Film
Cast: Li-Ming Hu, Katlyn Wong, Michelle Ang
Synopsis: Three Asian actresses transcend professional rivalry in one gleeful act of solidarity.
The 58th Berlin International Film Festival runs 7-17 February 2008, for more information see http://www.berlinale.de/en/homepage.html
The 30th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival runs 1-9 February 2008, for more information see http://www.clermont-filmfest.com/
The 37th International Film Festival Rotterdam runs 23 January – 3 February 2008, for more information see http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/default.aspx?liso=en-US
http://www.nzfilm.co.nz/
[release from the NZFC]