Coming of Eight At The Film Archive

Listing details: Screening of Coming of Eight: A Smallworld Story (2011), 7pm

Wednesday June 12

Where: The New Zealand Film Archive, 84 Taranaki St, Wellington Ticket price: $8 public / $6 concession FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Coming of Eight: A Smallworld Story at the Film Archive In partnership with the Goethe-Institut, the Film Archive presents the first New Zealand screening of Coming of Eight: A Smallworld Story (2011). In June 2010, the quaint Canadian town of Huntsville hosted the 36th G8 Summit. This documentary looks at the impact of the Summit on the community. How did it effect everyday life? How did it shape the citizens’ views on politics?

There was much controversy leading up to the 2010 G8 Summit - more than one billion US dollars were spent on security, and mass protests were anticipated. For many, the G8 calls forth associations of worldwide protests, street battles, smashed windows and riot police attacks. But in Huntsville, something seems to be a little different. The locals are more concerned with giving free hugs to protesters and coming up with special offers for police officers than with thoughts of teargas and rubber bullets. The attitude is “It’s a G8 - come and enjoy yourself!“ And the countdown for the great event is on...

Coming of Eight: A Smallworld Story was made by a German film making crew (director Robert Paschmann, producer Stefanie Reis). It premiered in Hamburg in December 2011. This will be the first time the film has screened in New Zealand. Producer Stefanie Reis will be present for a Q&A following the screening. Reis is a Hamburg-based film maker and curator. She has been in New Zealand since the start of 2013, putting on film programmes in cooperation with the Goethe Institut and making a TV programme on “Short film in New Zealand” for French/ German TV-broadcaster arte. She is also currently developing a global multimedia project, Heroines, which tells inspiring women’s stories.

There is a signboard beyond Civic Square that reads: “It’s true. You can’t live here by chance. You have to do and be. Not simply watch or even describe. This is the city of action, the world’s headquarter of the verb.” Reis says this quote sums up her Wellington experience.

“Spending the past few months here has been very inspiring and enriching and I have found Wellington a generous and safe space for bringing ideas to life,” she says.

Talking about her experience producing Coming of Eight, Reis says: “Making the film was quite a journey. When the director Robert Paschmann told me about the idea, I had just been to Huntsville by coincidence and I was excited to make this film. It was the first film for all of us, and we were as surprised as happy when we got the funding. We followed the community of Huntsville for one year, and being European, we expected some conflict and disillusionment at some point. Our concept and editing was challenged by those peaceful Canadians. What was expected to become a David versus Goliath story turned out to be a global story of a provincial community claiming the stage.”

Coming of Eight: A Smallworld Story will screen at 7pm Wednesday June 12. At The Film Archive, 84 Taranaki St, Wellington.

ENDS

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