Two NZ Short Films Selected for Sundance
The 27th Sundance Film Festival has announced its line-up selection and included are two New Zealand short films, Ebony Society and Redemption. The event takes place in January in and around Park City in Utah and is one of the top festivals in the US.
This year the festival’s short film programme comprises 81 short films from U.S. and international filmmakers selected
from 6,467 submissions. The NZ shorts are among seven to be selected for a newly created Indigenous Shorts Showcase.
Ebony Society is Outrageous Fortune star Tammy Davis’ debut as a writer/director The short film is produced by Ainsley Gardiner (Boy) and Chelsea Winstanley and will have its world premiere at the festival. It tells the story of two boys out stealing who break into a house and
find themselves confronted with an unexpected situation that will test their friendship and force the boys to consider
another way.
Redemption is director and co-writer Katie Wolfe’s second short film to be invited to Sundance. Her first short This Is Her screened in the international shorts competition in 2009. Redemption, which premiered at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in February is based on the original short story by Phil Kawana
and is adapted for the screen by Tim Balme, Renae Maihi and Wolfe. The short is produced by Rachel Jean and tells the
dark and tender story of two Maori teenagers trying to find their way through personal hells. However, in this coming of
age story, survival may not bring a happy ending.
Trevor Groth, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming said in a statement, “It’s a marvel to discover the
creativity in this year’s shorts program. These filmmakers are charged with telling compelling stories, nurturing
breakout performances and engaging the audience, all in a fraction of the time allocated to features, and each one
delivers. For 2011, we are pleased to be able to shine a light on indigenous filmmakers working around the world in the
short-form medium, and to provide festival goers with a window into native storytelling.”
Ebony Society was made with finance from Premiere Shorts - NZ Film Commission. Redemption was funded by NBC Universal and the Screen Innovation Production Fund, a partnership between NZ Film Commission and
Creative NZ, with additional post-production assistance from the NZ Film Commission. International sales for both short
films are handled by NZ Film, which is the sales arm of the NZFC. The filmmakers are travelling to the festival with
support from the NZ Film Commission.
The 26th Sundance Film Festival runs from 20-30 January 2011. For more information about the Sundance Film Festival
visit their website: http://www.sundance.org/festival/
ENDS