Herzog And Anvil! Two Late Additions Confirmed

16 July 2008
Press Release
For immediate release

Herzog And Anvil! Two Late Additions Confirmed For The Auckland International And Wellington Film Festivals

It is with great excitement that the New Zealand International Film Festivals announces two late additions to the programmes of the Auckland International and Wellington Film Festivals: the astonishing Antarctica documentary Encounters at the End of the World, directed by Werner Herzog (Fitzcarraldo, Grizzly Man), and outrageous rock documentary Anvil! The Story Of Anvil from debut feature film director Sacha Gervasi.

Encounters at the End of the World portrays deepest Antarctica in ways you have never seen before – with an absurd and entertaining Herzog twist. The director accepted an invitation to visit McMurdo Station from The National Science Foundation and set about making an eco-documentary that was not “another film about penguins”.

Stunning visuals take you into the heart of the one of the earth’s most isolated and remote areas, revealing fascinating landscapes and characters; human and animal. Dry humour abounds as Herzog’s signature voice-over weaves an idiosyncratic narrative thread. Only Herzog could pose serious questions to a rather uncomfortable penguin expert as to whether penguins could be gay or prone to madness!

Anvil! The Story Of Anvil comes to the NZIFF premiering in Sundance and winning audiences’ hearts at festivals around the world. This hilarious and wonderful documentary continues where This Is Spinal Tap leaves off, but more compellingly, this time the rock stars are for real!

Aged 14, Toronto school friends Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Rob Reiner formed their band Anvil and went on to become the “demigods of Canadian metal”, releasing one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982’s Metal on Metal. The album influenced Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax, who all went on to sell millions of records, while Anvil’s career took a decidedly different route straight to obscurity. This moving and infectiously funny film without a hint of condescension is a tribute to two 50-year-old men who refuse to give up on their rock dream.

Encounters at the End of the World screening in Auckland on Sun 27 July at 11am, Civic Theatre. Screening in Wellington on Sun 3 August at 12:45pm, Embassy Theatre.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil screening in Auckland on Sun 27 July at 6:30pm & 8:30pm, SKYCITY CINEMAS Queen St. Screening in Wellington Fri 1 August at 6:15pm & 8:15pm, Sat 2 August at 8:15pm, Sun 3 August at 8:30pm, Paramount Theatre.

ENDS

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