8 November 2004
Annual Wattie’s Cans Film Festival Only Days Away Monday 15 November, 2004
Many years of successful Hoyts Wattie’s Cans Film Festivals have taught movie fans to be in quick to secure a seat! From
today, people from all over New Zealand are able to exchange a can of Wattie’s food for a movie ticket at participating
cinemas of the Hoyts Wattie’s Cans Film Festival, for next Monday 15 November.
The thousands of donated cans significantly contribute to The Salvation Army Christmas food appeal.
Gerry Walker, Media Liaison for The Salvation Army says, “Over the past ten years the Hoyts Wattie’s Cans Film Festival
has collected more than 400,000 cans for the Christmas food banks and we want this year to be another great success! The
Salvation Army is extremely grateful to all who have donated over the years – it always comes at a critical time for us
when food banks are depleted and Christmas is a season of high demand from New Zealanders in need.”
Festival Patron Carolyn Robinson from TV3’s Nightline says, “The donated cans collected on the day benefits hundreds of
less fortunate families and individuals through The Salvation Army’s Christmas food appeal. It is fantastic to see so
many Kiwis get behind this great cause and support the Festival and I am proud to be involved in this fun family event
again this year.”
“Last year Wattie’s and the New Zealand public donated 50,000 cans and as always, we have set our sights higher this
year,” says Gerard McAleese at Wattie’s. “Wattie’s will once again meet the total number received from the public. In
past years we have heard of many people bringing more than one can, which shows just how much support there is around
New Zealand for the Festival and its cause.”
More than 125 screenings of recent movies will commence between 5.00pm and 7.00pm on Monday 15 November nationwide.
People must be in quick to make the most of this opportunity to see such movies as Harry Potter 3, Shrek 2, Confessions
of a Teenage Drama Queen, Spider Man 2, The Prince and Me, Mean Girls and King Arthur. Seats are limited!
“We hope people enjoy this year’s movies on offer and get into the spirit of the occasion. The participating cinemas
always enjoy a busy, but satisfying time as people begin to exchange their cans of Wattie’s food for movie tickets – it
is exciting to see people’s generosity for such a worthy cause. I would also like to thank Village Sky City, Reading and
participating cinemas for supporting this charitable event,” says Elizabeth Trotman, Marketing Manager at Hoyts Cinemas.
ENDS