Short Film & Dramatic Premieres At Wairoa Festival

Press Release:

Short Film & Dramatic Premieres At Wairoa Maori Film Festival Wairoa Aotearoa New Zealand, June 4th 2009

With The Wairoa Maori Film Festival Only Weeks Away the festival organisers are proud to announce the inclusion of New Zealand and World Premieres of short films and dramatic works.

The Wairoa Maori Film Festival will be presented later this month (18th to 21st June) in its fourth incarnation and all are invited to come along to our daily film screenings, a community market day at Taihoa Marae (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 20th June) and in particular the Festival Awards Night that will showcase local Wairoa musical talent (7 p.m. 20th June).

The Gala Opening Night at the War Memorial Hall (6 p.m. 19th June) will include a World Premiere of Garth Wateneh’s new digital feature “Rua”. We are also presenting on this evening New Zealand premieres of new Maori short films “Kehua” (Director Wiremu Grace), “Mokopuna” (Director Ainsley Gardiner) and “Warbrick” (Directors Meihana & Pere Durie, World Premiere). These three new short films are Wairoa-exclusive screenings, and will not be presented in the travelling programme around the rest of New Zealand. Maori-Italian themed kai will be served at the opening night.

On Saturday, the Festival Community Day will take place as part of the Taihoa Marae-based film screening programme. Taihoa Marae will be the locale for live performances, bouncy castles, sausage sizzles, a craft and kai market, and of course on-going film screenings throughout the day. The day will include a preview of the Wairoa musical talent performing at the evening’s awards dinner, as well as “meet and greet” with Maori film and tv stars, producers, directors and writers.

Saturday night is the Awards Dinner, with prizes for best International Indigenous Entry, Best NZ Drama Feature/Documentary, Audience Prize for Short Film and Festival Prize (Best Overall Entry). Entertainment for the evening is the local Wairoa College school band and the Billy TK Experience with Brannigan Kaa.

Tickets will be available for sale at Taihoa Marae from 19th June. The Opening Night at Kahungunu Marae (7 p.m. 18th June) is a free event and will include archival footage of the local Nuhaka and Mahia area. Ticket pre-sales for the Opening Night ($10) and the Awards Night ($50) are available by phoning Huia Koziol on 837-8854.

This year, as well as Wairoa, the festival will travel to Invercargill, Levin, Wellington, Gisborne, Papakura, Henderson and Auckland. The travelling programme is being sponsored by local hosts who include Venture Southland, Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum of New Zealand, Auckland City Council, the Horowhenua Film Festival and MIC Toi Rerehiko.

WAIROA MAORI FILM FESTIVAL 2009 Thursday June 18th to Sunday June 21st 2009, Kahungunu Marae, Nuhaka & Taihoa Marae, Wairoa Full details on our website: www.manawairoa.com / Pre bookings phone 06 837 8854

Authorised by Wairoa Maori Film Festival Society Inc.

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