New Zealand Films to feature in Brussels International Film Festival

This year New Zealand will be the featured country at the 38th Brussels International Film Festival.

This year’s International Film Festival will include several films from New Zealand, including four feature length films and five short movies..

The New Zealand Ambassador will officially open the International Film Festival on Tuesday 1 November and this will be followed by a special screening of the New Zealand film Predicament by Jason Sutter (based on Ronald Hugh Morrieson’s novel). The official reception will showcase New Zealand wine and cuisine, with Rebecca Woodmore, the noted New Zealand soprano performing a number of waiata (Maori songs).

Two other New Zealand films will be shown during the Festival. My Wedding and Other Secrets by Roseanne Liang is a comedy which explores the challenges of cross-cultural relationship, with a specific focus on the experience of Chinese-New Zealanders. The third film, Matariki by Michael Bennett, is a fascinating portrayal of a community in the South Pacific and examines the importance of traditional Maori values. The fourth film, Russian Snark by Stephen Sinclair is the story of a Russian film maker Misha who leaves his country on board a small ship to go to New Zealand where he experiences the same difficulties to defend his ideas.

The five short New Zealand Films (Hauraki, Mounted, Blue, Ebony Society, and Preferably Blue) by young and talented New Zealand directors have been selected by the Festival organisers for the quality of their creativity and innovation.

Venue: Centre Culturel Jacques Franck, Chaussée de Waterloo, 94, 1060 Brussels

Dates: 1 - 6 November 2011

Programme:

Tuesday 1 November 2011 at 08:00 PM: Predicament

Wednesday 2 November 2011 at 10:15 PM: Matariki

Sunday 6 November 2011 at 14:00 hours: My Wedding and Other Secrets

Saturday 5 November 2011 at 06:00 PM: New Zealand short films: Blue, Mounted, Hauriki, Preferably Blue, Ebony Society

Saturday 5 November 2011 at 22:15 PM: Russian Snark

For further information please contact the New Zealand Embassy by email: corinne.tjampens@mfat.govt.nz