US Premiere in Washington for Film by 16-Year Old New Zealander
Arboraceous, a short film made by 16-year old New Zealander Natasha Bishop, has been selected to screen at the prestigious
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital in Washington DC.
Selected alongside films made by the BBC, Discovery Channel, France TV and other international broadcasters and
film-makers, Arboraceous has its US premiere today at the festival.
The four minute animation will screen at Washington DC’s famous National Museum of Natural History, accompanying New
Zealand feature documentary Antarctica: A Year On Ice. Each film will be introduced by Anthony Smith, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of New Zealand in the United
States.
Entirely written, directed, animated and scored by Natasha, Arboraceous was made for The Outlook for Someday sustainability film challenge for young people in 2012. It was named The Body shop
Standout Winner, which is the ultimate accolade of the film challenge.
Since winning the film challenge, Arboraceous has achieved unprecedented international success. In 2013 Natasha became the youngest ever film-maker to have a film
nominated at the Japan Wildlife Film Festival (JWFF), the premier event of its kind in the Asia Pacific region. At JWFF Arboraceous competed with films made by heavyweights like the BBC and NHK and won two awards – the Newcomer Award and the Animation
Award.
A record 200 films from 38 countries have been selected for this year’s festival in Washington, with Arboraceous one of four New Zealand films among the selection. The New Zealand films are: Arboraceous, Antarctica: A Year On Ice, Beyond the Edge 3D, and the UK-New Zealand co-production Thin Ice.
Now 17, Natasha has just started her studies at Unitec, having received a one-year scholarship to study there as part of
her prize package in The Outlook for Someday film challenge in 2012.
Watch Arboraceous: www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/films/2012/182/
ABOUT THE OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY
Now in its 8th year, The Outlook for Someday is New Zealand’s sustainability film project for young people. It includes
an annual film challenge and a national series of sustainability film-making workshops.1090 young people participated in
the film challenge and workshops in 2013.
In 2014 over 40 one-day workshops are planned throughout New Zealand.
The Outlook for Someday film challenge asks young people aged up to 24 to make a short sustainability-related film of
any genre, filmed with any camera and any length up to 5 minutes. The entry deadline in 2014 is 12 September.
At the end of the year The Someday Awards red-carpet ceremony will take place for the fourth year running at the Aotea
Centre in Auckland.
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL
The 22nd Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital takes place during 18-30 March 2014, with films screening
in 65 venues across Washington DC.
Founded in 1993, the festival has become one of the world’s largest and most influential showcases of environmental film
and is a major collaborative cultural event involving over 100 partners and national embassies in Washington DC.
Each March the festival presents a diverse selection of high quality environmental films - including many US and world
premieres - to huge audiences across the capital. Documentaries, narratives, animations and shorts are selected to
provide fresh perspectives on global environmental issues.
Read about Arboraceous on the festival's website: www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org/films/show/1279
DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF ARBORACEOUS:
DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF NATASHA BISHOP
DOWNLOAD PROJECT IDENTITY
THE OUTLOOK FOR SOMEDAY PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
The Outlook for Someday in 2013 was based on partnerships between Connected Media Charitable Trust and The Body Shop New
Zealand, The Enviroschools Foundation, the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, TEAR Fund NZ, the Department of
Conservation, Ministry of Youth Development, Te Puni Kōkiri, Auckland Council and the Health Promotion Agency
Unitec was Tertiary Partner. Adobe was Digital Partner
Funding Partners were ASB Community Trust, Creative New Zealand’s Creative Communities Scheme and the New Zealand Film
Commission
Media Partners were Element Magazine, Face Television, The Erin Simpson Show, What Now, Tagata Pasifika, Tearaway,
Upstart, Viewfinder and YOURS.net.nz
Event Partners were The Edge, Austin’s Food Design Events and All Good Organics
Paper and Print Partners were Rockstock, B Papers and Benefitz
O’Halloran North Shore was Accountancy Partner. Stephens Lawyers was Honorary Legal Advisor
Industry Partners were Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand and WIFT NZ
Project Supporters were Levi’s® Stores, ecostore, Orcon, Corporate Consumables, AS Colour, Richardson Design, Karousel
Screenprinting, MoFresh, DefenderBags, Lothlorien Organic Fruit Juices, Entirely Sound, Orange Productions, NZ Camera
Hire, El Framo, International Public Relations and WWF New Zealand.
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