MEDIA RELEASE July 3, 2008
Film Industry Issues Forum
Film Auckland Election Year Special
Wednesday July 9, 6.30pm AUT Conference Centre
The shortage of film studio space in Auckland is again in the news, following last week’s NZ Herald report that Auckland
may not be selected as the filming location for the third Chronicles of Narnia film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, due
to inability to supply suitable studio facilities.
The new Henderson Valley Studio, which opened last year, is now fully booked for the coming year by another offshore
production, demonstrating the demand for such infrastructure.
This will be one of the issues addressed at next week’s Film Auckland Summit with representatives from parliamentary
political parties: Judith Tizard (Labour), Chris Finlayson (National), Dail Jones (NZ First), and Jim Anderton
(Progressive). The summit will be moderated by Cameron Bennett, host of TV One’s Sunday programme.
The parties have been invited to announce any new policies affecting film production at this summit.
The film production industry is also looking for the parties’ views on matters such as the Large Budget Screen
Production Grant, the rebate measures announced in the Budget and the role and function of the NZ Film Commission.
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Film Auckland markets Auckland as a filming location to international film and television producers, providing contact
with local facilities, services and personnel, as well as facilitating liaison with relevant local body and government
organizations and developing industry infrastructure. Established and governed by a board of film industry
practitioners, Film Auckland is operated by executive manager Michael Brook.
See the new website at: http://www.filmauckland.com
Film Auckland thanks AUT for the venue and technical facilities.
Film Auckland is sponsored by: Auckland City Council, Atlab, Waitakere Enterprise, Ernst & Young, Heletranz/Tony Monk Films, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Pieter Holl & associates, Onfilm/The Databook, Sony, The Hilton, Digipost, Panavision.
ENDS