A 52-minute digital film "A Small Life," directed by Raumati film maker Michael Heath, with music and visual effects by
Wellington composer David Downes, will be the first New Zealand film ever to screen at an International Film Festival in
Pakistan in December.
Michael Heath received news this week from Mr Hasan Zaidi, Director of the 2nd KaraFilm Festival - International Film
Festival of Karachi 2002, that his film had been selected for the Festival.
"Pakistan is a country that makes very few films, " said Mr Heath. "But recently there have been many independant
productions, mainly social films and documentaries, which have been screened in the West. This Festival is only the 2nd
International Festival ever in Pakistan, so we are very honoured to have our film invited."
Organized under the aegis of the Independent Film Forum, a grouping of committed young Pakistani filmmakers, the Kara
Film Festival is a celebration of the moving image and of storytelling. The organisers' goal is to promote an
appreciation of the art and craft of filmmaking among a wide population as well as to encourage creativity and high
standards among filmmakers.
"A Small Life," which Heath describes as a "cinematic song cycle about a mother's loss of her young son," which stars
Auckland singer/songwriter Mahinarangi Tocker, recently won the Special Mention Award at the 6th Avanca International
Meeting of Cinema, TV, Video and Multimedia in Avanca,
Portugal.
It will also screen next week in competition at the 5th Edition of the Auburn
International Film and Video Festival for Children and Young Adults in Sydney.
"A Small Life" was made with the assistance of the Screen Innovation Production
Fund, a partnership between Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Film Commission.