2nd Annual Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival screens Palmerston North, 14 – 17 September
Looking for films on today’s stories that matter? Tired of the same old Hollywood plots? Then get your fix at the 2006
Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival - Te Mauri o Papatuánuku. With 20 New Zealand premiers and over 30 films, the AEFF
is running at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North September 14 - 17. The ultimate in reality cinema, the Festival
features an eclectic mix of documentaries, animations, and mini-dramas; all focusing on life on earth. The Globe
Theatre, with its comfortable seating, massive screen, and beautiful foyer makes the perfect venue for the Festival.
“Plus with a name like ‘The Globe’, our Festival just had to be there” says volunteer Abigail Allan.
Organisers of the Festival, an all-volunteer group called Southern Solutions, previewed over fifty films for the
Festival. The longest selected is just over an hour, the shortest finishes in just 4 minutes. Subjects range from
natural history of NZ wildlife to consumer power in a global economy, and the chilling international legacy of
antipersonnel land mines.
“Previewing and selecting among fifty excellent NZ and international films was a challenge for the team, but we’ve been
able to bring forward the best of the best for a New Zealand audience” says Allan.
Following the sell-out success of the inaugural AEFF in July 05, this year’s Festival is shaping up to be another expo
of quality films telling excellent stories. Screenings will be over four days starting Thursday 14 September, including
three evening sessions plus a Sunday matinee. Each session is unique and will screen new films from both New Zealand and
international directors.
“We’ve seen tremendous support from Palmerston North residents in 2005, challenging us to create an even better Festival
for 06. We believe we’ve done that; more films, more sessions, and some producers on-site” says Allan. “Community
support is the key to growing the Festival, and keeping it in Palmerston North.”
“We’ve received financial support from Palmerston North City Environmental Trust, Eastern and Central Community Trust,
Manawatu Branch of Forest & Bird, and the KnoWaste campaign headed by Alan Fielding at PNCC. This support base has allowed us to keep the ticket
price low and value high; with concession rates to ensure access to the entire community is affordable” says volunteer
Jason Blair.
The Festival opens on Thursday 14 September. Session 1 includes 9 films, with a total running time of approximately
three hours, with an interval after the first 90 minutes. The Festival opener, ‘French Fries to Go’takes a fresh look at
one man’s high-energy approach to biofuels in the Rocky Mountains, USA. The first session also includes films on urban
land rights, conservation in East Timor, the Tui’s melodic role in myth and nature, cycling, climate change, and water
access. Two Session 1 films are by New Zealand producers.
Session 2 on Friday features four New Zealand and five international films. “The highlight is ‘The Power of Community:
How Cuba Survived Peak Oil’ (Faith Morgan/53 min/USA/2006). This film looks inside Cuba’s post-Soviet transition from
large-scale industrial agriculture to small organic farms and urban gardens, and shows how their communities became
stronger in the process” says Blair.
Session 2 has films looking at two hot topics in NZ; biosecurity and genetic modification. ‘Under Their Skin’ is
creative and takes a look at all sides of the pests and poison issue. “It has just won at a top environmental film
festival overseas, we’re lucky to have the chance to screen it” says Allan. Session 2 also takes a humorous look at road
rage, a quick look at urban farmers, the Save Happy Valley Campaign on the West Coast, and a recent feature on
sustainable economic development in the South Pacific.
“As was the case in ‘05, Saturday night is the highlight of the entire Festival, not just because it has a catered
interval” says Blair, “but also that some films will be introduced by their producers. “This year we’re screening the
world-class documentary ‘Disarm’, an intelligent and critical investigation of the use of antipersonnel landmines, and
their impact throughout the world. Filmed in 12 countries on 4 continents, Disarm is a must see feature, co-directed by
New Zealander Mary Wereham. The film was just released in 2005, we’re extremely lucky to have the chance to get it on
the big screen here in the Manawatu.”
“Saturday night really is a great line-up” says volunteer Julie Dalziel. “Two new features from Dunedin based producers
are sure hits, ‘Mad Mac and the Flat Ugly Snail’ an entertaining revision on the paua industry, and ‘Long Fin’ exploring
the amazing life-history of NZ long-finned eels. “The cinematography in Longfin is outstanding” says Dalziel.
The Saturday night session also features ‘Wind Over Water’, a look at the swirling controversy around wind farms in
significant landscapes. “Globally, industrial scale wind farms are seen as a blessing by some and a curse by others,
both sides claiming protection of the environment as their goal. This film takes us to the middle of one of America’s
wealthiest communities to watch the drama unfold” says Allan.
Session 4 rounds out the 06 Festival with a Sunday matinee featuring 7 films. “This session is the most focused of the
Festival, with a lot of content looking at the power of consumers in a global economy” says Allan. “It also has an
eclectic feel, a funky marine conservation expedition in the Pacific, and a look at the impact of modern imperial
aspirations on culture and environment in the Himalayas. The Himalayan film, ‘Paving Shangri-La’ is one of the most
beautiful mountain films in the festival” says Blair. “The NZ focus in Session 4 is a look at the use of the NZ falcon
in the vineyards of Marlborough.”
The Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival - Te Mauri o Papatuánuku is screening at the Globe Theatre, September 14-17.
All Festival details are listed on the website www.aeff.org.nz. Ticket prices: $10/$15 with multi-session concessions.
Tickets are available from all Ticketdirect outlets (including the Regent on Broadway and Arena Manawatu in Pascal St.),
at www.ticketdirect.co.nz or by ringing 0800 484 253.
ENDS