More New Zealand Films Than Ever Before

Media Release
28 April 2005

More New Zealand Films Than Ever Before

More New Zealand made films than ever before will be screening at the Out Takes 2005 gay and lesbian film festival. The festival runs from 26th May through 15th June in Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch.

The two New Zealand feature films premiering at Out Takes 2005 are: Stewart Main’s 50 Ways Of Saying Fabulous and Ross Bevan’s Sleeping On The Floor. Nine short narrative films are also screening, including Welby Ings’ Boy which has won several awards overseas.

TWO New Zealand Feature Films Premiering

50 Ways Of Saying Fabulous
Dir: Stewart Main, New Zealand, 2004, 35mm, 90 mins
Based on Graeme Aitken’s book of the same name, 50 Ways Of Saying Fabulous is set in the summer of 1975 and filmed in stunning Central Otago. 12-year old Billy is a farmer’s son out of step with the other boys at school. He doesn’t like rugby much and prefers the company of tomboy Louise; together they dream about an imaginary life in outer space. When fellow outsider Roy moves to Billy’s school, and Jamie, a sexy young farm labourer comes to work on Billy’s farm, Billy’s world is changed forever. There’s more floral polyester print than you can probably stand, but rural 1970s New Zealand is the perfect backdrop for this fresh telling of sexual awakening that is infinitely real, funny and moving by turns. http://www.50waysofsayingfabulous.com
Reel Queer is delighted that Graeme Aitken, author of the original novel will attend the Christchurch screening, and director Stewart Main will attend the Wellington & Auckland screenings.

Sleeping On The Floor
Dir: Ross Bevan, NZ, 2005, DVD, 78 mins
Sleeping On The Floor is filmed entirely in Wellington and tells the story of the summer love affair between two young twenty-something women. Together they face the trials and tribulations of working and flatting in the city. They fall in love but their relationship is eventually put to the ultimate test when one of them receives an offer that is too good to refuse.
Reel Queer is delighted that the director, Ross Bevan, will be in attendance.

NINE New Zealand Short Films Screening

Boy
Dir: Welby Ings, NZ, 2004, 35mm, 15 mins
A lush, poetic glimpse into the secrets a small-town boy holds.
Preceding Ethan Mao http://www.boyshortfilm.co.nz

Mates
Dir: Leilani Kake, 2005, New Zealand, DVD, 5 mins
Two old friends connect outside an Auckland nightclub…
Preceding Funny Kinda Guy

Boot Camp
Dir: Felix Preval, NZ, 2004, DVD, 2 mins
Sailor boys, drag queens. A lush, intense mini-epic from Wellington filmmaker Felix Preval.
Preceding That Man: Peter Berlin

Gaze
Dir: Ed Lust, NZ, 2004, DVD, 6 mins
If you’re young and in love – sing out! You never know what might happen…
Preceding Jim In Bold

Ball Game!
Dir: Marc Checkley, NZ, 2004, DVD, 3 mins
A date for the ball – every girl’s dream! But has someone got their wires crossed?
Preceding in Auckland only Sleeping On The Floor

Till Death Do Us Part
Dir: Jenny & Jonathan Keate, NZ, 2005, VHS, 7 mins
Two devoted couples in small town New Zealand plan to take advantage of an enlightened law change, but an outraged local thinks ‘enough is enough’ ...
Preceding in Wellington only Sleeping On The Floor

Straight Talk
Dir: Tilly Flood, NZ, 2003, Beta SP, 12 mins
Love triangle with a twist? Or Straight Talk?
Screening in the Something Else programme of short films

Blur
Dir: Meshell Edgecombe & Toni Keevil, NZ, 2005, Beta SP; 2 mins
Screening in the Something Else programme of short films

Snore
Dir: Lisa Williams, NZ, 2005, DVD, 5 mins
Does your girlfriend Snore? Help is at hand!
Screening in the Something Else programme of short films

ENDS