Documentary Edge 2012 – Opening/Closing Night Film

For Immediate Release

The Alpha, The Omega, And Everything Inbetween

DOCUMENTARY EDGE FESTIVAL 2012 – OPENING/CLOSING NIGHT FILM AND SCREEN EDGE FORUM

Every story has a beginning, middle and an end. The same applies to the Documentary Edge Festival 2012.

This year, the festival opens with the follow up to the hit film Who Killed the Electric Car? Director Chris Paine returns with Revenge of the Electric Car. Narrated by Tim Robbins, it highlights the comeback of the electric car, five years on since the original film. With almost every car manufacturer jumping to produce new electric models, Paine takes us behind the closed doors of Nissan, General Motors, a Silicon Valley start-up company Tesla Motors, and a part-time electric car convertor who refuses to wait for international car makers. Paine will be a guest of the Festival supported by the US Embassy.

The festival closes its curtains for another year with the powerful Life in Movement, a celebration of the life of dance/choreographer Tanja Liedtke. Her work was acclaimed across the world, culminating with her appointment in 2007 as the new Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company. At the age of 29, before taking up the position, she was struck and killed by a truck in the middle of the night. 18 months after her death, collaborators embark on a world tour of her work, and in the process, must deal with their grief and explore the reasons for her death. Incredibly moving, Life in Movement gives audiences a powerfully rendered take on art and artists, creativity and our own mortality.

Amongst all the screenings of the incredible 72 documentaries on offer this year, documentary enthusiasts will also partake in the annual Screen Edge Forum and the Gala Awards taking place during the festival.

The Gala Awards, to be held on May 3rd, is one of the rare chances in New Zealand where the field of documentary making is celebrated in its own specific awards ceremony. It’s a chance to recognise New Zealand’s filmmaking excellence while praising the best international documentaries that audiences have been fortunate to view during the tenure of the festival.

The highly-influential and important Screen Edge Forum takes place from the 2nd – 4th of May at Auckland University of Technology. A three day screen industry event that covers all platforms of filmmaking, questions will arise like: What is transmedia? How big is the gap in documentary funding and development? The forum also gives participants a chance to hear from seasoned professionals from both New Zealand and abroad, feeding their knowledge in an effort to support New Zealand documentary filmmaking. It also gives filmmakers an opportunity to pitch their projects to funders and broadcasters.

Early-bird registration for the Screen Edge Forum is still open until the 15th April.

The Documentary Edge Festival runs from the 26th April - 13th May in Auckland and 17th May - 3rd June in Wellington.

For more information on screenings, bookings and other events, visit www.documentaryedgeorg.nz

ENDS

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