Incredible Film Festival declared "dead"

28 May 2004

Incredible Film Festival declared "dead"

May it "Rest in Peace"

Beck's Incredible Film Festival, directed by Mr Anthony Talbot Timpson, is dead! As the festival website states: may it "Rest in peace" (see gravestone plaque!).

This is the festival that unsuccessfully sought to screen the French explicit sex/graphic violence film "Baise-Moi" (a High Court ruling in response to the Society's application, prevented the film from being screened at the festival) and the Japanese sex violence film "Visitor Q", featuring extended/gratuitous depictions of necrophilia, incest, rape and corpse mutilation.

"Visitor Q" was effectively shut out of the festival by the president of the Film and Literature Board of Review following a successful application for an interim restriction order from the Society. (The classifications of both films are currently the subject of Society appeals to the Court of Appeal).

An entry on the Deceased Festival Website (www.becksincrediblefilmfest.co.nz) dated 13 April 2004 states:

"FILM FESTIVAL FOUND DEAD AFTER MISSING FOR WEEKS ... R.I.P. 1994 - 2003"

"It's all too much. Lady Diana, JFK, Benny Hill and now another entertainment icon has fallen.

"It is with regret that we announce the recent passing of one of NZ's finest institutions - The Incredible Film Fest. The festival was found lying by the side of State Highway One, near Pokeno (formerly Jenniferanne.com) a few weeks ago by local citizens. There was no sign of any suspicious behaviour and police will not be investigating further.

"Concerned festival patrons are asked to send along any condolences, fond reminiscing and/or warm fuzzies"

For the Society's views on the now defunct Incredible Film Festival see:

SPCS Media Release 3 August 2002. "Film Festivals, Sex Perverts, "Baise-Moi" and Censorship". http://www.spectator.co.nz/feedback/feedback-baise-moi.htm

SPCS Research Report 10 June 2003. "Taxpayers fund "bad taste" film festival."
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0306/S00053.htm

The Festival's director Mr Anthony Talbot Timpson, who trades as "2Brothers Films" (P.O. Box 5653, Wellesley St, Auckland) is now accepting cheques (entry fee payments) from those wishing to enter what he describes as "NZ's premiere short filmmaking competition".

The official rules of the 48Hour competition state that "the organisers reserve the right to not screen any film that can be considered pornographic or extreme hate material".

The Society seeks answers from the competition organisers to the following questions:

1.. Why don't instructions to the 48Hour film competitors specifically state "pornography and material containing extreme hate speech will NOT be considered by the judges."?

2.. Is reserving the right not to screen such material an act of censorship on the part of the 48Hour film competition organisers?

3.. If it is censorship, what is the reason for denying film-makers the opportunity of freedom of expression in film-making and denying film-goers the freedom to view the fruits of such creativity?

4.. If it is not censorship, then what is it?

5.. Are public screenings of the competitor's films going to be shown at a public and/or private screening?

6.. Is a charge being made for any of the public or private screenings?
A press release entitled "48Hours - Furious Filmmaking Competition" posted on Scoop on Friday, 14 May 2004, states:

"48HOURS is an intense filmmaking event. Cowards need not apply. This is NZ's premiere short film competition. The website will be updated shortly with the annoucement [sic] of prizes, where the heats will be held and more. There are a limited number of team spaces for each competing city - Auckland/Wellington.
"48HOURS - PO Box 5653, Wellesley St, Auckland, NZ.
"Make cheques payable to "2BROTHERS FILMS.

"You better hurry as there is limited space for each city. All email enquiries to: anthonytimpson@xtra.co.nz

Shooting Weekend: AK & WGTN June 11-13 Heats: June 15-18 Final: AK June 20th CIVIC THEATRE. WGTN June 26th PARAMOUNT THEATRE."

The Society president, Mike Petrus, says "the Society's executive wishes every success to all budding film-makers participating in the 48Hour short film-making competition and its organisers."

ENDS

© Scoop Media