World Cinema Showcase 2006

World Cinema Showcase 2006

Christchurch, Rialto Cinemas: Mar 16–29 * Dunedin, Regent Theatre: Mar 22–Apr 6
Wellington, Paramount: Apr 6–19 * Auckland, Academy Cinema: Apr 20–May 10

The New Zealand Film Festival Trust is pleased to announce the eighth annual WORLD CINEMA SHOWCASE, now well established as the little film festival that the organisers of the annual July International Film festivals organise – when they’re not organising the big one. “The intention is basically the same as that of the Festivals,” says long time Festival director, Bill Gosden, “to provide exposure for some of the exceptional films and filmmakers who aren’t assured a release in New Zealand’s small, but crowded market.”

The Showcase is also a sought-after premiere venue for other, about-to-be-released-titles that can only benefit from the specialised attention. In this category we are thrilled to announce NZ premiere screenings of foreign-film Oscar nominee Tsotsi as our Opening Night film. This electrifying, highly adrenalised South African drama of a teenage township thug teetering on the edge of redemption took the audience award in both the Edinburgh and Toronto Film Festivals. You can also look forward to new films by some big names - Lars von Trier, Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach and Wim Wenders to name a few, as well as the charming follow up to The Spanish Apartment – Russian Dolls

Of special interest are two films directed by NZ women now living and working overseas. Oyster Farmer, set on an isolated Australian river and beautifully shot by Alun Bollinger, has been receiving rave reviews for director Anna Reeves. We are especially delighted to be able to bring Anna back home as guest of the Showcase. Mary Wareham’s lively and damning activist documentary, Disarm, about the devastating legacy of anti personnel mines heads up a strong documentary section.

Over the years the Showcase has provided the rare chance to appreciate the classics on the scale their makers intended. This year Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator and Sergio Leone’s eccentric A Fistful of Dynamite are on show in all their restored glory.

For those not easily offended The Aristocrats celebrates the finest (and most foul mouthed) traditions of stand-up, while other highlights include revisionist Aussie outback western The Proposition, penned by Nick Cave and starring Guy Pearce, and Phil Morrison’s keenly observed feature debut, Junebug (watch for Oscar nominee Amy Adams’ standout performance). The Danes are well represented this year with two excellent dramas – Accused and Brothers – showing further evidence of the extraordinary dramatic force coming from this country.

As always there are return screenings of last year’s Festival titles that have not had the subsequent distribution they might have deserved. Here is your chance to see Darwin’s Nightmare, Cannes winner The Child and anime spectacular Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence.

ENDS

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