Film Archive Makes a Home in Nelson

Film Archive Makes a Home in Nelson

Imagine having over 150,000 slices of New Zealand’s film and television history, from 1895 to the present, at your fingertips - and you don’t have to travel further than the Nelson library.

The New Zealand Film Archive will be available on-site at the Nelson Public Libraries from June 10, providing immediate access to hundreds of titles and an online portal to over 150,000 feature films, short films, newsreels, documentaries, home movies, music videos, TV shows, commercials, experimental films and video arts - all for free.

The Friends of the Nelson Library have been instrumental in supporting the initiative.

A launch function for invited guests and media is set for 6.30pm, June 9 at the Elma Turner Room, featuring a presentation from the Film Archive’s Diane McAllen of an illuminating tour of national and Nelson’s local history.

The presentation includes rare archival footage from Nelson’s colourful past including the Queen’s royal tour, shots of the growing city throughout the decades, the local outrage when the last of the railway tracks were pulled up and Nelsonians at work and play - look closely, you might even know some one on screen.

Nelson Libraries’ Information Services Librarian Nicola Harwood said a trial installation had proved popular already. “Having the Film Archive’s collection available here in Nelson should be a real hit with locals,” she said. “The Nelson-related content has been great so far and we’re looking forward to pressing the button on the full Film Archive service in June.”

Based in Wellington, the Film Archive has successfully initiated 12 locally-based sites around New Zealand in libraries, museums and art galleries. Using modern digital video technology, the sites offer playlists of locally-themed and topical content for immediate and free use.

Meanwhile, it also offers a portal to the full array of Film Archive content which can be distributed on request. Researchers, students, inquisitive citizens or even just Jane Public with a few hours to spare can get access to a lifetime of New Zealand’s moving image history.

So if you want to look back at a slurring Robert Muldoon, marvel at a Colin Meads rampage, laugh nostalgically at life on a local farm, or catch the award-winning short film Two Cars, One Night, then you need only go as far as the Film Archive at the Nelson Public Libraries.

ENDS

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