Cannes Grand Pix winner for Film Festival

Thursday 27th May 2004

Press release - Auckland and Wellington only

Incredible cinema joins Telecom New Zealand International Film Festival to bring Cannes Grand Pix winner.

Old Boy the South Korean film championed by Quentin Tarantino, which scooped the Grand Prix du Jury at the 57th Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, will show as part of the new That’s Incredible Cinema section in the Telecom New Zealand International Film Festival.

Anthony Timpson who ran the Incredible Film Fest (Incredibly Strange Film Fest prior to 2001) for the last ten years will program the new “Incredible” section.

This collaboration between festival directors, Bill Gosden and Anthony Timpson marks the end of The Incredible Film Fest, which was well known for its adventurous selection of sometimes bizarre and controversial films.

Telecom New Zealand International Film Festival director Bill Gosden welcomed Anthony Timpson’s involvement.

“Though Ant's probably best known as the scourge of the wannabe censors, his Incredible Film Festival has also been instrumental in generating audiences in New Zealand for a lot of cutting edge work. He's certainly demonstrated the mettle of his expertise and networks by netting us OLD BOY months in advance of its Cannes selection. The first 'Incredible' section has all the energy we could have hoped for and should extend our audience and Ant's.” said Bill Gosden

Anthony Timpson exclaims “What can I say? They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and I do mean couldn’t (have you seen Bill angry!). Actually this pairing is the natural evolution of the Incredible Film Festival’s life cycle. It was born ugly, became a naughty teen and then matured into a stubborn adult. It was time to let it go and watch it socialise on a larger canvas. It will probably still get into a little trouble, but who's perfect? This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of Telecom New Zealand Intentional Film Festivals, a vital medium that continues to showcase the very best of International Cinema”

CONTINUES

Neither Festival director has shied away from showing challenging or controversial films and both have had to fight intensive battles with The Society for the Promotion of Community Standards, who brought injunctions against film festival screenings in earlier years.

The That’s Incredible Cinema section will include the 2004 Grand Prix du Jury winner Old Boy, a visually inventive and violent thriller, freely adapted from a 1997 Japanese comic book that embraces the idea of vengeance. Australasian distribution rights to the film have now been secured by Rialto Distribution.

Another film direct from competition at Cannes, which is showing as part of Anthony Timpson’s selection is Bad Santa, a comedy about a full-time cynic who works as a part-time department store Santa, starring Billy Bob Thornton. Shaun of the Dead, a manic spoof horror described as a romantic comedy with zombies is picked by festival programmers to be another highlight of the new section.

The entire programme will be announced in Auckland on 15 June and Wellington 17 June.

The 2004 website www.nzff.telecom.co.nz is now online where more programmed film information is available.

ENDS

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